year old Elena-Lavinia Tarlea the Rio Olympics marks her senior international debut following four years racing at U23 level. Her partner, Laura Oprea, has a bit more international experience under her belt. She made her senior debut in 2013 as part of the W4X that finished 8th at the European Championships, U23 gold in the W2X followed the same year and in 2014 she won silver at the European Championships with Cristina Grigoras. At the World Championships she doubled up in the W2- and W8 placing 4th in both events and in 2015 this pairing finished 7th, thus qualifying the boat for Rio. In 2016 Oprea swapped partners and Madalina Beres joined her, winning bronze at the Europeans. This pair then moved into the W8 and successfully qualifiedthat boat as well at the FOQR, meaning Oprea will double up in both boats. At the final World Cup Oprea and Beres won bronze, but with this partnership being split up and the inexperienced Tarlea being brought in, the chances of medalling in Rio are looking remote.

South Africa

Lee-Ann Persse 27 & Kate Christowitz 25

Olympic record

Persse: 8th W2- London

Christowitz: 2016 Olympic debut

World Championship record

Persse: 6th W2- 2011, 6th W2- 2013, 6th W2- 2014, 5th W2- 2015

Christowitz: 4th U23 W2- 2010, 5th U23 W2- 2011

2016 record: 1st W2- Varese World Cup, 4th W2- Lucerne World Cup

Given the size of the South African women’s rowing squad, it’s perhaps no surprise that Persee has spent her entire international career racing in the W2-, making her debut at the Munich World Cup