While the Olympic sailing takes place on the other side of the country, on the coast of Marseille, the rowers won't have to move as much and will have their base at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. This complex, inaugurated in 2019 in Seine-et-Marne, on the outskirts of Paris, is the same venue where the canoeing competition will be held.

For a long time, the United States dominated the discipline in the Olympic Games, but later the USSR and Germany took the top spots in the rankings. Today, the evolution of the sport worldwide has resulted in greater parity and decentralized talent, leading to the distribution of medals among numerous nations.

Now, things have changed. The Dutch rowers claimed gold in the men's quadruple scull final, dominating the race with an impressive performance that left little room for competition. 

Meanwhile, in the women's category, Great Britain secured the gold medal, concluding the event with a similarly outstanding performance. Both teams showcased exceptional skill and prowess, cementing their place in Olympic history with victories that will be remembered by spectators.

The regatta, which started on 27 July, will extend until 3 August and will gather about 500 athletes competing in 14 events across men's and women's categories: single sculls, double sculls, coxless double sculls, quadruple sculls, coxless quadruple sculls, lightweight single sculls, and lightweight double sculls.

Today, the fifth day of Olympic rowing, the first medals will be awarded in the men's and women's quadruple sculls finals. Additionally, there will be action in the lightweight quads and rowing pairs on another packed day of water activities:

• 09:30 Men's Double Sculls, Final C
• 09:42 Women's Double Sculls, Final C
• 09:54 Men's Single Sculls, Semifinal C/D 1
• 10:04 Men's Single Sculls, Semifinal C/D 2
• 10:14 Women's Single Sculls, Semifinal C/D 1
• 10:24 Women's Single Sculls, Semifinal C/D 2
• 10:34 Men's Pair, Semifinal A/B 1
• 10:44 Men's Pair, Semifinal A/B 2
• 10:54 Women's Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 1
• 11:04 Women's Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 2
• 11:14 Men's Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 1
• 11:24 Men's Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 2
• 11:34 Women's Lightweight Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 1
• 11:44 Women's Lightweight Double Sculls, Semifinal A/B 2
• 12:02 Men's Quadruple Sculls, Final B
• 12:14 Women's Quadruple Sculls, Final B
• 12:26 Men's Quadruple Sculls, Final A
• 12:38 Women's Quadruple Sculls, Final A

It is relevant to know that, in rowing, all crews are classified at the end of the competition, meaning that the "B" and "C" finals are used to determine the final rankings of those who did not make it to the main final.

The boats set out very early. Starting at 9:30 AM, the Men's Lightweight Double Sculls Final C kicked off. The male crews from Chile, Japan, Uzbekistan, and Egypt battled fiercely, with the Chilean boat emerging victorious. Led by César Abaroa and Eber Sanhueza, the South American team crossed the finish line in first place, resisting a final push from Japan. Uzbekistan secured third place, while Egypt, in 4th, was left off the podium.

China had a clear path in the women's lightweight double scull C final. Despite not having qualified for the main final, they were the undisputed favorites to win this race. In the end, the competition was not close. China clearly outperformed the other three crews, with Xiuping Qiu and Jiaqi Zou taking the victory. Peru finished in second place, followed by Japan in third and Iran in fourth.

With so much excitement, there was barely any time to witness the start of the first semifinal of the morning in the men's single scull event. Brazilian Lucas Verthein had taken a clear lead at 700 meters from the finish. Algerian Sid Ali Boudina and Hungarian Bendeguz Petervari-Molnar were leading the chase. After crossing the finish line, it was a great result for the Brazilian, who qualified for the C final, while Petervari-Molnar and Boudina secured the remaining three spots in the C final for this series.

The action continued this morning in the other semi-final of the men's single sculls. American Jacob Plihal beat the rest to book a place in the C final alongside Bulgarian Kristian Vasilev and the surprising Paraguayan Javier Insfran.

After the impressive performances of the men, it was the women’s turn to compete in their C/D semifinals of the single scull event. Four countries—Slovenia, Serbia, Brazil, and Paraguay—contended for the three spots in the C final.

However, despite the close competition at the start, the powerful Balkan rower Jovana Arsic claimed first place with a superb performance from the 1000-meter mark. Slovenia and Brazil completed the top three spots.

Paige Badenhorst led the second C/D semifinal of the women’s single scull by a wide margin. Notably, the standout performance came from Mexico’s Kenia Lechuga. Following them across the finish line were Elis Özbay of Türkiye and Diana Dymchenko of Azerbaijan. Türkiye, Peru and Vietnam advance to final D.

With great anticipation, the men's pair semifinals were awaited. In the first heat, the American duo of William Bender and Oliver Bub, who had clinched the Olympic gold in Tokyo, took the stage. However, the talent and power of the crews from Croatia, Switzerland, and South Africa promised an exceptional race. And so it was, leading to some surprising outcomes.

Only three pairs were set to advance to the grand final. The Croatian siblings, Martin and Valent Sinkovic, outshone all other boats. In a remarkable effort, the Swiss pair of Roman Roeoesli and Andrin Gulich secured second place. Once again, astonishment swept through the stadium with the appearance of the Spanish duo, Jaime Canalejo and Javier García, who claimed the third spot.

The other semifinal was determined not to fall behind. Romania delivered an impressive performance, taking a dominant first place. The British duo, Tom George and Ollie Wynne-Griffith, who were widely regarded as the favorites, achieved second place quite comfortably and safely advanced to the final. In third place, the Irish pair completed the podium, setting the stage for the two semifinals of the Women’s Double Sculls.

In the women’s semifinals, which began shortly before 11 a.m., the first race was marked by a surprising level of disparity. The Dutch team completely dominated the initial heat, maintaining a lead of nearly five boat lengths over Romania, which finished in second place. The gap was striking, with Veronique Meester and Ymkje Clevering showcasing an exceptional performance. Romania’s Vrînceanu and Anghel, along with Greece’s Evangelia Anastasiadou and Christina Bourmpou, completed the podium.

The Dutch team, having shown the most dominance in the discipline so far, kept a close eye on the other semifinal, where Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre of Australia made a significant comeback in the final 500 meters to win the heat. Following the Aussie duo, who emerged as the greatest threat to the Dutch team, the American pair Jess Thoennes and Azja Czajkowski fulfilled expectations by finishing second from lane six. The Lithuanian team rounded out the podium in third place.

With the men's double scull semifinals underway, all eyes were on the Irish crew of Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan. Both Olympic champions appeared to have their place in the final secured, and the prophecy proved true. Neither Switzerland nor Czechia, the top-ranked challengers, could compete with the Irish tandem.

Gabriel Soares and Stefano Oppo, the Italian rowers, left no room for surprises as they positioned themselves as a formidable challenge to the unbeatable Irish team. In their semifinal, the transalpine duo dominated with ease. The Greek team executed an excellent row in the first 1000 meters, setting the course for the semifinal and securing second place. Lastly, the Norwegian crew claimed third place after a thrilling battle against Spain.

Before the medal distribution in rowing on Tuesday, the stage was set for the two Women's Lightweight Double Sculls Semifinals. The first semifinal began with the British duo, Imogen Grant and Emily Craig, leading the pack. As strong contenders for gold, they showcased a dominant performance. In second place, Jackie Kiddle and Shannon Cox from New Zealand put in a solid effort. Finally, securing the last podium spot but still achieving qualification, were Reckford and Sechser from the USA.

Once the first heat concluded, the second semifinal awaited. Ionela Cozmiuc and Gianina Beleaga from the Romanian delegation took the lead, crossing the finish line ahead of Greece, represented by Kontú and Fitsiou. The Irish pair, Cremen and Casey, secured third place. A thrilling battle is anticipated between Romania and Great Britain as they vie for the medals.

"B Finals" are a significant phase in rowing events, determining the 7th to 9th positions. In these races, rowers have the opportunity to improve their final standings and showcase their skill and endurance on the water.

While some might view these finals as an unnecessary formality that could be removed, they remain an integral part of the Olympic Games. These finals add an extra level of excitement and entertainment, allowing athletes who did not make it to the main final to demonstrate their prowess and compete fiercely until the very end.

The men’s quadruple scull had a spectacular final ahead. The six crews faced 2000 meters of intense racing, with three Olympic medals at stake. After a grand start, the competition became fiercely contested among Italy, Poland, and Great Britain for the podium positions. From the beginning, it was clear that the Netherlands would lead the race due to their superiority.

As the finish line approached, the Netherlands solidified their status as the Olympic champions, Italy secured the silver medal, and Poland took the bronze in a magnificent final race.

Immediately after, the focus shifted to the women’s quad. This was the final event, marking the end of an 18-race marathon held at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

Great Britain’s team, consisting of Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, and Georgie Brayshaw, secured an Olympic gold medal with a dramatic final stroke. It was one of the most memorable finals, with what seemed like a nail-biting defeat until the last seconds, but they clinched the gold by a narrow margin, delivering a decisive blow and expending their final reserves at the crucial moment.

The Netherlands, having to settle for silver, took home two medals on the day, showcasing the rowing prowess of the Dutch nation. Germany, while not competing for the gold, which was fiercely contested between the Dutch and the British, managed to secure a respectable bronze.