Canada’s women’s eight won bronze at the World Rowing Championships on Sunday in Racice, Czech Republic. Quebecers Gabrielle Smith and Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski teamed up with Jessica Sevick, Morgan Rosts, Kirsten Edwards, Alexis Cronk, Avalon Wasteneys, Sydney Payne and Kristen Kit (coxswain) to finish just over 6 seconds behind the winners, the Romanians .
Posted at 12:36 p.m.
The Dutch edged the Canadians by 2.5 seconds to claim the silver medal.
From the start of the 2000 meter race, Romania took control of the event. Canada was tentatively second, except the Netherlands started closing the gap midway through.
“We had a solid first 1,000 meters. The Dutch have passed us, so it’s something we will have to improve this winter, but all in all, it’s really encouraging, because we’ve been rowing together for a short time,” said Gabrielle Smith.
It was at the 1300 meter mark that the Dutch found themselves side by side with the Canadians who then had to draw on their reserves to keep their third place against the Americans who came back on them. The Canadian crew was finally able to resist by half a boat length.
“We were confident that we could hold on until the end,” continued the Quebecer by adoption.
The Canadian women’s eight had been an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo last year, except that the crew is no longer exactly the same, starting with Smith, who previously rowed double sculls.
“The figure eight is much faster than the double scull and I’m very happy to be part of the boat! said the 25-year-old athlete.
In the men’s eights final, the Canadians placed fifth, 6.30 seconds behind the winners, the British. Montrealer Terek Been was part of the crew along with Luke Gadsdon, Joshua King, Curtis Ames, Ryan Clegg, William Crothers, Peter Lancashire, Jakub Buczek and Laura Court (helmsman).
The country’s representatives secured their place in the grand final on Tuesday when they won their heat of the preliminary round.
Marilou Duvernay-Tardif was in the B final of the women’s double sculls. The rower from Lac-Brome and her Ontario teammate Elisa Bolinger took fifth place.
Last July, at the World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, the Quebecer teamed up with Shannon Kennedy to also finish in fifth place in the B final. Kennedy was present at the world championships in Racice where she took fourth place in the C final in a single scull.