Thornley makes Olympics in single sculls to end long wait
Rio silver medallist Vicky Thornley became the first British female single sculler in 20 years to qualify for the Olympics yesterday, as runnerup to American Kara Kohler in an intense semi-final.
She also beat 2017 world champion Jeannine Gmelin for the first time and was one of three Tokyo qualifiers, including para-sculler Benjamin Pritchard.
“There was so much riding on it, but I knew if I delivered my best stuff I was confident of top three, and it was winnable,” said Thornley. “Normally I’d get out ahead [of Gmelin] and she’d come back through me, but I didn’t let her.” Tomorrow will be even harder but the pressure of qualification is now off. “Once you’re in the final it’s anyone’s game and we start level.”
Para-sculler Pritchard started water rowing only in early 2017, but won his semi-final with startling ease to qualify for Tokyo and put himself in the medal race alongside the reigning world and Olympic champions. Pritchard sculls the racing shell formerly used by Paralympic legend Tom Aggar, a boat which has considerably more experience of international competition than its new owner does, but he is improving at a remarkable pace. “Since the World Cup I’ve spent a lot more time at Caversham having access to the world-class coaches there,” Pritchard explained.
“I raced my own race to the 600 metre mark and then took it down a little.” His final is tomorrow while the stellar para-double and four race theirs today. The other qualifiers were the men’s double, who managed a safe third place in their semi-final despite being tripped up by an unexpected opening surge from New Zealand.
Maddie Arlett rounded off the day with a bronze medal in the lightweight single sculls, her first championships podium place. Hearts will be in mouths today for the crucial B finals with Tokyo qualification for the pairs, women’s four and men’s quad. The pairs must finish in the top five to qualify for 2020 and the quartet boats in the top two, while the men’s four bid for a medal.