New Zealand’s single scullers made an impressive start to their Rio de Janeiro Olympic campaigns today, with Mahe Drysdale the top men’s qualifier and Emma Twigg second among the women.
Drysdale, rowing in heat 2, was never pressed despite the rather choppy conditions, and won in 7min 04.45s. The defending Olympic champion qualified for the quarter-finals fastest ahead of Cuban Angel Fournier Rodriguez (7min 06.89s) and Briton Alan Campbell.
Drysdale’s perennial rival, Czech Ondrej Synek, was the sixth fastest qualifier.
Twigg, world champion in 2014, won heat 6 comfortably in 8min 17.02s. She ended up second fastest qualifier behind Kenia Lechuga Alanis of Mexico, who finished in an impressive 8min 11.44s.