Arriving at the course today, everything was lining up for a great day of finals. The weather rockets have been working well - we had clear skies, no smog, and a light breeze that didn't disturb the mirror flat water. The 80 degree day felt more manageable than most so far.
The story of the day, by far, is the dominance of China. They won 6 of 13 gold medals, JW4-, JW1x, JW2-, JM2-, JW2x, JM4x, with silver in the JM2x and bronze in JM8+. Germany won two, JM2x (over China), JM8+, played second fiddle to China in three races, taking home 5 silvers, and a bronze in the JM4+. The two countries led the medal count with 8 each, the next closest being Romania with 3 (1 gold in JW8+, 2 bronze) and Belarus with 2 bronze. The US's sole medal was bronze in the JW8+ (more on that later).
The Chinese showed great skill and relentless attack in all of their finals. Many of the female Chinese victors showed no emotion after crossing the line, calmly resting over their oars and quickly going to the awards dock. It was seemed like another day of training for them.
During the JW4-, and JW1x (the first and third finals), the local crowd did not cheer for the race until it was completed. I got the sense that they wanted to wait until the performance was complete before applauding. US fans would later tell me that they had no idea how to cheer, emulating the French fans as the day went on.
The heartbreaker of the day has to be the collapse of the German JW2x. The Germans were leading the Chinese by at least a length of open at 1250, and looking sharp and collected. Then, the stroke seat whiffed on one, and knifed in another. The lead quickly was down to a half length at the 1500, but by then it was just a matter of time - the Chinese saw their opportunity and pressed right through. The German stroke seat continued to struggle, knifing her starboard oar in every stroke, forearm on fire. The Germans finished 5th, in what was a very difficult race to watch. You have to feel for that girl.
In the JW2-, the US pair of Kinnenkohl and Japhet had a tough time keeping with the pack through the middle 1000, in their own race with Portugal, back of the medals. The crew would finish 6th, unable to hold on as the Portugese pressed in the last 500.
The US JM8+ had their work cut out for them if they were going to keep speed with the Germans and Kiwis and get on the medal stand. On Wednesday, the Kiwis beat the US in the heat, rowing several beats lower and looking strong. The Germans also led their heat wire to wire. Today, the US was with the race early, out in 3rd at the 500. The Chinese drove the early momentum of the race, leading early and attacking hard. It wasn't enough for them, though, the Germans stayed calm and the Kiwis pressed through. The US crew fell back in the second thousand, with the Kiwis and Italians, but couldn't recover in the second half. The race became more stratified in the third 500, with the finish order set going into the last 500, the US finishing 5th, a half length back on the Italians.
In the JW8+, the US was favored, posting the fastest time earlier in the week. The crew came out of the blocks a few seats down on Romania and up on Germany. They battled at 3 seats down for 1000 meters with the Germans on the other side of them pushing with the two leaders. The US didn't have enough to catch the Romanians, and were pressed through by the early-sprinting Germans. The US captured bronze, only the 9th medal in for US Junior Women in Worlds competition.
I spoke with coach Steve Hargis after the race:
"We did better in the heats than everyone, and became a marked man... they did exactly what we wanted them to do, we knew Romania was going to try to blast off the line, and they fought back so hard, just so happens that they brought Germany with them. So, we created a pretty fast finish; it was great. I asked them each 'is that the best race you've done... individually?' and they all said 'yes' - 'so why the tears?' I thought it was fantastic."
Congrats to the US JW8+ on their bronze!
That's it from Shunyi, see you state-side.
~JT
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