Women's quadruple sculls clinch historic first Olympic gold in dramatic style

Rowing 31 Jul 24

In the final stroke to end all final strokes, the women’s quadruple sculls rowed to an historic gold medal on the waters of the Varies-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The crew of Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw chased the Netherlands right into the last hundred metres before crossing the line just 0.15 seconds ahead in a dramatic photo finish.

Breaths were held for what felt like an age before a mighty roar echoed off the water as it was announced that Team GB quad crossed the line first with a time of 6:16:31.

This is the first gold medal Team GB has ever won in the event as the quad follow in the footsteps of countless crews who laid the groundwork for their victory.

"It has been a long time in the making and I still can't quite believe it," said Scott. “I have just been trying to play it really cool.

"We kept it so cool until right at the end, we knew we had it, we had the confidence, we have done so many hard miles in training.

“For anyone out there, just go for it. If you think you can, you might just one day and that's the really cool thing about the Olympics."

Gold also marked the end of an emotional chapter for Anderson who, after London 2012, wrote in her diary that she wanted to be Olympic champion before ripping the note out because she thought it was unachievable.

Anderson was later reunited with the same scrap years later when her father, Don, gave it back to her shortly before he passed away.

The Richmond rower said: “I forgot about it obviously but a couple of years ago my dad reminded me and I know that he would be so, so proud. I am thinking a lot about him right now, it's really lovely.

"It doesn't get bigger than this, it is really quite overwhelming to just experience this, but I am really grateful."

Victory also marked the 300th medal that Team GB's women have won at a Summer Games (Olympic & Paralympic) since National Lottery funding was introduced in 1997.

The men's quadruple sculls finished on the other side of the medals with a close fourth place in the final.

The crew of Thomas Barras, Callum Dixon, Matthew Haywood and Graeme Thomas were in a ding-dong battle with Poland and Italy for the minor medals, with the supreme Dutch crew away and clear.

But it wasn’t enough in the end for the boat, stroked by Thomas, who also finished fourth in Tokyo.

Away from the finals, Emily Craig and Imogen Grant are safely through to their lightweight women's double sculls showpiece on 2 August after a calm and collected semi-final whilst Chloe Brew and Rebecca Edwards finished fifth in the women's pairs semi-final and will now contest the B Final.

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