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Great Britain’s rowing team secured a thrilling gold medal in the women’s quadruple sculls, edging out the Netherlands in a nail-biting finish. The Dutch crew led for most of the race but was narrowly beaten by GB in a photo finish, with the British team crossing the line in 6 minutes 16.31 seconds, just 0.15 seconds ahead of their rivals.
The victorious crew comprised Lauren Henry, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw, and Hannah Scott. The quartet, who added this Olympic gold to their 2023 world title, celebrated with overwhelming joy and relief after the close contest. “I still can’t quite believe it,” Scott told BBC One. “We kept it so cool to the end… The immensity of it hasn’t caught up with me yet.”
Henry, at 22 the youngest of the group, played a crucial role in their final push. She encouraged her teammates to give their all, saying, “We are going now, we need to go now.” Her intuition was proven correct when she saw “GBR 1” on the big screen, confirming their victory.
This win marks a significant achievement for Team GB, especially following a disappointing Olympic performance in Tokyo. It is the first time Great Britain has won the women’s quadruple sculls at the Olympics.
The men’s quadruple sculls team from GB finished fourth, with the Netherlands retaining their title from Tokyo. Tom Barras, the only rower from the 2021 silver medal team, was joined by Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood, and Graeme Thomas. They finished nearly two seconds behind Poland, with Italy taking silver.
The gold medal has deep personal significance for Anderson, who had once penned a note as a teenager aspiring to Olympic glory. Her father, a former rower, had kept this note and reminded her of her dreams before his passing. Anderson said, “I know that he would be so proud of me… It’s quite overwhelming to be experiencing this but I am so grateful.”
Brayshaw, who overcame severe injuries from a horse-riding accident in her youth, and Scott, inspired by the 2012 Olympic success, both reflected on their personal journeys. Brayshaw described the win as “speechless,” while Scott highlighted the importance of perseverance in their stories.
Germany secured the bronze medal, and China, the defending champions, finished sixth. On Friday, Great Britain’s Emily Craig and Imogen Grant will compete in the final of the lightweight women’s double sculls. Additionally, Ollie Wynne-Griffith and Tom George advanced to their pairs final, and Ireland’s Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney also progressed.
