US Women's Rowing Eight make final at Tokyo Olympics

The US Women outdid the men at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic games Saturday. The eights crew from the United States made their way into the final while the men were forced to try again in repechage at the Sea Forest Waterway. New Zealand joined the US women while Germany and the Netherlands were the winners on the men’s side. 

The US Men competed in the first heat with Germany fighting with them for the lead early. At the 500 meter mark, they lead by two tenths with a high stroke rate. The Americans tried to keep a seat lead while trying to add another on the reigning world champions. At the halfway point, they had three seats on Germany and an eight-tenth lead. With 500 meters to go, the Americans kept three seats against Germany, who suddenly picked it up late. 

Germany moved forward and took a seat and more before crossing the line in first, winning by almost a boat length. Team USA’s loss forced them into the repechage once more despite putting a good fight on the water. Following Germany into the final were the Netherlands,  who went wire to wire in the three-boat heat. The defending champions from Great Britain finished third and were forced to fight for a return in the repechage with New Zealand. 

The American women competed in heat two with Romania and Australia. The defending champions trailed as both the Aussies and the European champions came out with a higher stroke rate. After crossing the 500-meter mark, the Americans got into another gear to press the issue. They leveled with the Romanians prior to the halfway point. With a slight lead, Team USA picked up wonderfully gaining two seats. 

Australia was trailing back enough to make it a two-boat race with 500 to go. The US had a two-second lead on Romania with 500 to go, who moved faster than the Americans but were too far back. The United States women managed to finish comfortably with a three-seat lead to qualify for the final. The world champions from New Zealand, who were out of it during a majority of the race but overtook China and Canada in the final 500 meters.