The Nautical Stadium's rowing base was once again filled with boats. Less than 24 hours later, athletes were back in the water to try and snatch medals from their competitors. In a sport already rich in drama and excitement at these Olympic Games, today's success represented another thrilling moment for water sports enthusiasts.

What many did not know was that before the main event, the finals, Olli Zeidler's time of 6:35.77 in the men's single scull semifinal set a new and massive Olympic best, surpassing the time Stefanos Ntouskos set at Tokyo 2020 (6:40.45). A historic moment for rowing in Paris 2024.

Regarding the medal distribution, Great Britain and the Netherlands were expected to dominate as rowing powerhouses. However, unexpected guests like Romania and New Zealand, who took 3 medals, managed to add more excitement to this great morning of rowing.

In the women's and men's double scull, Romania dominated with a gold and a silver respectively. New Zealand began their rise in the men's events, culminating in two podium finishes in the coxless four.

Meanwhile, Great Britain secured three medals, none of them gold; and the Netherlands, with two medals and a gold in the women's coxless four, reaffirmed their status as members of the international rowing elite.

The schedule for this new rowing day was as follows:

09:30 Women’s Single Sculls - Semifinal A/B 1
09:40 Women’s Single Sculls - Semifinal A/B 2
09:50 Men’s Single Sculls - Semifinal A/B 1
10:00 Men’s Single Sculls - Semifinal A/B 2
10:10 Women’s Eight - Repechage
10:20 Men’s Eight - Repechage
10:30 Women’s Double Sculls - Final B
10:42 Men’s Double Sculls - Final B
10:54 Women’s Quadruple Sculls - Final B
11:06 Men’s Quadruple Sculls - Final B
11:18 Women’s Double Sculls - Final A
11:30 Men’s Double Sculls - Final A
11:50 Women’s Quadruple Sculls - Final A
12:10 Men’s Quadruple Sculls - Final A

The regatta began calmly on Thursday morning. The weather forecast had indicated a small storm in Paris early in the morning, but conditions had cleared up, setting the stage for a smooth session of races. Shortly after 9 am, the starting signal was given for the last of the single scull semifinals before some critical repechages in the eights and then four medal races in double scull and coxless fours for both men and women.

The women's semifinals started the competition. High-level performances were expected, particularly from Karolien Florijn. The reigning world champion from the Netherlands controlled her semifinal from start to finish, with Australia’s Tara Rigney in second and Bulgaria’s Desislava Angelova in third.

In the other women's single scull semifinal, New Zealand's Twigg led the race. Lithuania’s Senkute and the USA’s Kohler took the remaining podium spots.

The men's semifinals followed, with a standout performance by the Dutch team, represented by Simon van Dorp. Despite a quick start by the Germans, the Dutch crossed the finish line first. Italy, unfortunately, missed out on a place in the men's eights final. New Zealand’s Mackintosh and Belgium’s Brys completed the podium for the Saturday final.

During the event, one rower made a historic mark. Olli Zeidler's time of 6:35.77 set a new Olympic record in the men's single scull, a remarkable feat that was celebrated by all present.

The action then moved to the repechage rounds for the women's and men's eights. Denmark did not advance in the women's category, while the USA, Canada, Australia, and Italy moved forward. In the men's category, Italy narrowly missed out, with the Netherlands, Germany, Romania, and Australia advancing.

The Final B races in quadruple sculls were up next, setting the stage for the exciting finals. In the women's event, Ireland triumphed, with Imogen Magner, Elmear Lambe, Natalie Long, and Emily Hegarty beating Denmark and Australia.

In the men's event, the Netherlands showcased their prowess again, winning ahead of France and Switzerland.

The highlight of the day was the quartet of finals. The women's double scull final kicked off with a closely contested race. Great Britain nearly secured the silver but was overtaken by Romania, who claimed second place. New Zealand’s Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors took the gold in a thrilling finish.

In the men's double scull final, Ireland’s Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch won bronze. Romania took a surprising gold with an exhausting final 500 meters, surpassing the Dutch, the main rivals. Ireland edged out the USA for the bronze, marking their fourth medal of the week.

The women's quadruple scull final was next, with the Netherlands aiming for another gold. They dominated the race, securing the top spot, while Great Britain and New Zealand claimed the other medals.

The men's coxless four final concluded the day. Despite a slow start by Great Britain, the USA and New Zealand quickly took the lead. The British quartet managed to secure bronze, while New Zealand took silver, and the USA won their first rowing gold of the Games.

In the coming days, the excitement of rowing will continue at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. With more competitions scheduled, athletes will keep striving for Olympic glory, and fans can anticipate more unforgettable moments and impressive records. The atmosphere promises to remain as vibrant as ever, with each race bringing new opportunities for drama and celebration at these Paris 2024 Olympic Games.