Racing for the 2023 World Championships begins on Sunday, September 3, in Belgrade, Serbia. Below, we preview the women's quadruple sculls event.
ENTRIES - 13
2020 Olympic Champion – China
2022 World Champion – China
RACICE 2022 RECAP
Four crews started quickly with China leading Great Britain, Ukraine, and Switzerland through 500 meters. The Chinese and British quads continued to move out on the field in the middle of the race with the Dutch moving into third. China held off a massive sprint from the Netherlands at the finish line to win again, with Great Britain holding on for the bronze over Ukraine.
Watch the final from Racice here.
2023 SEASON RECAP
The defending world and Olympic champions from China returned in 2023 with their lineup intact, and raced twice this season, winning gold at World Cup II and finishing fourth at World Cup III. The Dutch and British quads continue to be strong as well, with the Netherlands winning World Cup III and finishing second at Euros, while the British won a pair of World Cup silvers to go along with a bronze at the European Championships. Other crews that have medaled this year are Switzerland and Ukraine.
USA PROSPECTS
The United States debuts a brand new women's quad in Belgrade, with Emily Kallfelz and Grace Joyce returning from the 2022 crew that finished ninth in Racice. Joining them are Molly Reckford and Lauren O'Connor. Reckford moves up from the lightweight women's double that won the silver medal at Worlds last year and finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics. O'Connor will be racing at her first world championships, after racing in the W2x at World Cup II, finishing fifth with Kallfelz.
With seven Olympic qualification spots on the line in Belgrade, racing will be tough. The American quad should have an outside shot at making the A Final, or be near the top of the B Final.
MEDAL PICKS
With the Chinese quad looking vulnerable after their fourth place finish in Lucerne, the top of the podium for the women's quad should be an exciting race between the Netherlands, Great Britain, and China. Switzerland and Ukraine are the most likely crews to challenge for a medal, and possibly the United States depending on how quickly the new crew can gel.
GOLD – NETHERLANDS
SILVER – CHINA
BRONZE - GREAT BRITAIN
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