The Women's Single Scull quarter-finals at the Tokyo Olympics have served up some exciting action, with several top contenders securing their place in the semi-finals.
Rigney Dominates in Opening Race
Australia's Tara Rigney continued her impressive form, dominating the first quarter-final. The Sydney-born rower established a clear lead within the opening 25 strokes, leaving Kara Kohler of the USA trailing behind. Desislava Angelova of Bulgaria secured the final qualifying spot for the A/B semi-finals, demonstrating her consistent performance.
Florijn Cruises to Victory
Dutch rower Karolien Florijn showcased her dominance in the second quarter-final. The reigning World Champion built up a significant lead within the first 250 metres and controlled the race from there. German sculler Alexandra Foester fought hard to close the gap, overtaking Tatsiana Klimovich (Independent Neutral Athlete) before catching up to Florijn in the final strokes. All three secured their place in the semi-finals.
Twigg Holds Off Janzen
Reigning Olympic champion Emma Twigg faced a tough challenge in the third quarter-final from Switzerland's Aurelia-Maxima Katharina Janzen. Janzen pushed Twigg hard in the opening 1000 metres, but the Kiwi champion found another gear in the final stages, ultimately winning by a comfortable margin. Virginia Diaz Rivas of Spain snatched the final qualifying spot after overtaking Jovana Arsic in the final 500 metres.
Senkute and Lobnig Advance
The fourth quarter-final saw a fierce battle between Viktorija Senkute of Lithuania and Austrian legend Magdalena Lobnig, the 2020 Olympic bronze medallist. Senkute's exceptional sculling technique had many surprised, while Lobnig was determined to secure a spot in the A/B semi-finals. The race was significantly slower than the previous three, suggesting that the final medal contenders may not be among those who advanced. Anna Prakaten, the silver medallist in Tokyo, also secured her place in the semi-finals.
These exciting quarter-finals have set the stage for an intense semi-final showdown in the Women's Single Scull. The race for Olympic glory is far from over, and the final medals will be decided in the coming days.