Lightweight Double Sculls, Women

Since the 2012 Summer Olympics, New Zealand’s Sophie MacKenzie and Julia Edward were the most consistent duo in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls, having won the 2014 and 2015 World Championships. Meanwhile, one of the defending Olympic champions, Katherine Copeland of Great Britain, had also had her share of success in the intervening years, winning the 2015 European Championships and coming in as runner-up at the 2015 World Championships, the latter with her partner in Rio Charlotte Taylor. Several other nations had found varying success in the event over the last four years, which amplified the chances that there would be strong competition at the 2016 Games. Of particular note was the Dutch duo of Ilse Paulis and Maaike Head, who earlier that year had won the European Championships and set a world record.

The Dutch continued their strong performance in the heats, posting the only sub-seven minute time, while Great Britain was eliminated surprisingly in the repêchage. The Netherlands again had the fastest time in the semifinals, while the South African pair of Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler, the 2015 World bronze medalists, edged out MacKenzie and Edward to claim victory in the other semifinal. Neither South Africa or New Zealand posted a serious challenge in the finals, however, which were won fairly handily by the Dutch. Silver went to Canadians Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee, the 2011 and 2014 World runners-up; Jennerich was also a 2010 World Champion in the event. Huang Wenyi of China, a 2012 Olympic runner-up and 2014 World bronze medalist, helped teammate Pan Feihong capture the bronze medal.