Britain stack up Olympic qualification places but fall short in medal hunt

Britain finished ninth in the World Championships medal table but joint top in Olympic qualification, and leading the way in para-rowing.

The closing finals yesterday added a single bronze medal to the British tally, as the men’s eight were caught off balance by early speed from Germany and New Zealand, but pushed on from 600 metres gone, staying ahead of Australia, to claim third in an intense race where any slip could have cost them qualification.

“Each year we come away with the medal I least like the colour of, but this regatta was all about getting boats to the Olympics, and this year we’ve really evolved as a squad,” said Mat Tarrant. “We’ve really learnt a lot.”

In an equally competitive women’s eights final, the British opted for prudently confirming Tokyo tickets, doing so by 1.5 seconds over Romania, while New Zealand and Australia surprisingly beat defending champions the United States. “It wasn’t our prettiest row, but it was about getting that qualification spot,” said cox Matilda Horn.

Para-sculler Benjamin Pritchard performed beyond his experience, finishing fourth in a field where Ukrainian winner Roman Polianskyi set a world-best time. Pritchard was only one second behind Australia’s bronze medallist and 2018 world champion Erik Horrie, and set a personal best by 20 seconds.

“It was a very quick race,” he said. “Unfortunately I didn’t have the pace this year, but I’m looking forward to going again next year.”

John Collins and Graeme Thomas finished fourth in the men’s double despite medal aspirations, and Vicky Thornley was two seconds off a medal in the women’s singles, another rapidly accelerating race. The women’s team qualified six boats out of seven for the Olympics, the first time they have outdone the men with four.

Rowing has changed in the past three years. Fields have tightened, minor slips can cost many places, and more crews are reaching the medal zone. In such close contests there can be small gaps between gold and sixth, and Britain have work to do with three Olympic-class bronzes compared to New Zealand’s tally of four golds and two silvers.