Paris 2024 rowing: All results as Netherlands defend Olympic men’s quadruple sculls title in style
Picture by 2024 Getty Images
Netherlands cruised to victory in the men’s quadruple sculls rowing final ahead of Italy and Poland at Paris 2024.
The Dutch quartet of Lennart van Lierop, Finn Florijn, Tone Wieten and Koen Metsemakers crossed the line with a time of 5:42 to successfully defend their title by more than two seconds.
It makes for a second gold for both Metsemakers and Wieten, who were in the boat when setting a world record at Tokyo 2020, while silver medallists three years ago Great Britain finished fourth this time around.
The Netherlands were heavy favourites heading into this final after posting 5:41.69 in the heats on Saturday at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
That was almost two seconds quicker than the Italians, while both Poland and Great Britain looked set to compete for a podium place as well given their times in the heats.
Come the final, those four nations were ahead of Germany and Switzerland as expected after 500m, and come the halfway stage at 1000m there was to be no more overtaking – and therefore no surprises.
The Dutch pressed home their advantage, holding a 1.67-second lead over Italy going into the final 500m and then making that 2.4 seconds by the time they crossed the line.
Italy’s quartet of Luca Chiumento, Luca Rambaldi, Andrea Panizza and Giacomo Gentili therefore took home the silver ahead of Poland’s bronze medallists Dominik Czaja, Mateusz Biskup, Miroslaw Zietarski and Fabian Baranski.
Meanwhile, it was disappointment for GB’s Tom Barras, Graeme Thomas, Callum Dixon and Matthew Haywood, who finished fourth almost two seconds behind Poland. Barras had won silver three years ago.
Men's quadruple sculls rowing final, Paris 2024 Olympics
Gold: Lennart van Lierop, Finn Florijn, Tone Wieten and Koen Metsemakers, Netherlands
Silver: Luca Chiumento, Luca Rambaldi, Andrea Panizza and Giacomo Gentili, Italy
Bronze: Dominik Czaja, Mateusz Biskup, Miroslaw Zietarski and Fabian Baranski, Poland
Related content