By Philip O’Connor
PARIS (Reuters) – A cornerstone of the Olympics almost since the very beginning, the rowing regatta at the Paris Games produced plenty of drama, but there were few breakthroughs for new nations as the favourites in many classes took most of the medals.
Steeped in tradition, only bad weather stopped rowing from making its Olympic debut in 1896 and it has featured at every Games since, but change is already on the horizon.
Rowing will likely have to appeal to an even broader audience if it is to retain its quota of athletes beyond 2028.
The Paris regatta produced a great tale of redemption for Britain’s women’s lightweight pair Imogen Grant and Emily Craig, who bounced back from missing the Tokyo podium by a hundredth of a second to triumph at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Alongside their Irish neighbours in the men’s event, Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, they will probably remain Olympic lightweight champions in the discipline forever, as it is set to make way for coastal rowing in the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Britain, whose consistently high standards fell away in Tokyo with just two medals, neither of them gold, as they finished 14th in the rowing medal table.
In Paris they won three golds, two silvers and three bronzes, and finished second behind the Dutch, who have won the same number but four golds.
Eight of the 10 British crews won medals.
After leaving Tokyo empty-handed, the United States grabbed two medals in Paris, and they will be hungry for more when the Games take place on home water in four years’ time.
Otherwise there was plenty of drama but few surprises as the Netherlands, a resurgent Britain and Romania dominated the medals, picking up half of the 42 on offer between them.
New Zealand have produced some of the best rowers in modern times and won four medals in Paris, but many of their foremost paddlers are likely to be past their best before L.A., leaving them with a hole to fill.
Coastal rowing may well attract a younger audience in 2028, but Paris has shown there is still a thrill to be had from the ferocious races that can take place when the more traditional boats and crews take to the water under the Olympic rings.
(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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