Racing for the 2018 World Championships begin on Sunday, September 9, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Below, we preview the M2-, W2-, LM2-, and LW2- events. Read the preview for the singles here.
THE FAVORITE – The overwhelming favorites are the Kiwis. Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler have gone unbeaten the last two years, including a world title in 2017 and wins at both World Cup II and World Cup III in 2018.
MEDAL CONTENDERS – The Romanian pair of Iuliana Popa and Madalina Beres should be a formidable combination. They are the current European champions in the pair and they will be doubling in to the eight as well in Plovdiv. Caileigh Filmer and Hillary Janssens of Canada finished second to New Zealand at World Cup III and should contend for a spot on the podium. The American crew could be a wild card as they have no history in the event but should be pretty slick.
USA PROSPECTS – The USTC – Princeton pair of Gia Doonan and Vicky Opitz won trials and will represent the USA for the first time at the World Championships. They are a new combination on the international stage together, and are also doubling in to the American eight. They are not without experience though, Optiz is a three time world champion in the women's eight, while Doonan won two U23 golds in 2016. The crew should compete for a spot in the A Final with a chance at the podium. Read more on Opitz here.
2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – The New Zealand women's pair of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler dominated the final in Sarasota, leading by open water for the majority of the race and winning by four seconds. Megan Kalmoe and Tracy Eisser of the United States won the silver with a sprint over the Danish pair of Hedvig Rasmussen and Christina Johansen. Video here.
THE FAVORITE – Tough to select a favorite for Plovdiv based on the 2018 results so far, based on overall pedigree we will say that the Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic may have a slight edge. The former doubles world and Olympic champions finished second by a nose to Italy in 2017 and recently won the European title.
MEDAL CONTENDERS - The top two crews to challenge the Croatians are the Kiwis and and French. The New Zealand pair of Thomas Murray and Michael Brake won at World Cup III, while the Onfroy brothers from France were a close second behind the Kiwis. The Czech has had a solid campaign this year as well, medalling at each World Cup, including a gold at World Cup II.
USA PROSPECTS – Michael Colella and Anders Weiss of USTC- Oakland will be racing as the United States men's pair in Plovdiv for the second year in a row after winning trials on August 8. In 2017, the combo finished eleventh in Sarasota and Weiss also raced the event in the Rio Olympics, finishing eleventh as well. The crew will be looking to improve on their 2017 result and contend for a spot in the A Final.
2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – The Italian pair of Matteo Lodo and Giuseppe Vicino defeated the Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic with a fantastic sprint finish. Thomas Murray and James Hunter of New Zealand won the bronze. Video here.
THE FAVORITE – No favorite as this will be the first time a lightweight women's sweep event will be contested since 2003.
MEDAL CONTENDERS – Italy boats the sisters Serena and Giorgia Lo Bue. They have won a few medals at the junior and U23 level, most recently a silver in the U23 lightweight quad in 2014.
USA PROSPECTS – Jennifer Sager and Jillian Zieff of Riverside BC won trials in August and will represent the USA in the LW2-. Both will be making their second appearance at the senior world championships following 2017 where they both sculled in the LW4x, finishing in seventh place.
2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – This will be the first year that the lightweight women's pair will be contested since the 2003 World Championships in Milan, ITA. Medalists in '03 were Romania, Great Britain, and Greece, with the USA pair of Renee Hykel and Meghan Sarbanis finishing in fourth.
THE FAVORITE – Italy are the favorites, returning the same crew that of Giuseppe Di Mare and Alfonso Scalzone that won the silver medal in this event in 2017.
MEDAL CONTENDERS – Greece should be a solid contender for Italy. Antonios Papakonstantinou and Ioannis Marokos won silver last month in the light pair at the U23 Championships. Then the question will be how long the Americans can keep the pace to challenge for gold and silver.
USA PROSPECTS – The New York AC pair of David Smith and Tom Foster won trials in August unopposed. 2018 will be Smith's fifth appearance on national team, highlighted with a bronze medal in the LM8+ in 2015. Foster will be making his second appearance on the senior team, following a sixth place finish in the 2017 LM4- along with Smith. A spot in the A Final will be a good showing for the crew.
2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Mark O'Donovan and Shane O'Driscoll of Ireland torched the lake at Nathan Benderson Park, rating no lower than a 43 for the entire race, and won the gold over Italians Giuseppe Di Mare and Alfonso Scalzone. The Brazilian pair of Xavie Vela Maggi and Willian Giaretton raced hard for the bronze medal ahead of Great Britain. Video here.
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