Sechser and Reckford Win Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, Earn Spot in Tokyo

LUCERNE, Switzerland – Michelle Sechser and Molly Reckford are heading to the Olympic Games after winning the final of the lightweight women's double sculls on Sunday at the 2021 World Rowing Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.

The victory earned both Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa) and Reckford (Short Hills, N.J./Dartmouth College) their first Olympic berths.

"I'm just so happy to have achieved this and to have done it with Molly," Sechser said. "I couldn't have asked for a better way to achieve this thing with a better partner. It was a really hard race. It was great with the amount of competition – people launching sprints – because when the Olympics are on the line, everyone just throws everything they can. It was really awesome to feel the power of our boat respond immediately to the attacks the field was launching without any sort of nervousness or hesitation, and that's how I know I've got a great partner calling the shots."

After getting off the line in second behind a quick start from China, the U.S. duo moved into the top spot during the second quarter of the race. The Americans continued to push out on the field during the third 500 meters, establishing more than a length lead on China as Switzerland and Ireland chased the other qualifying spots.

Coming home, Sechser and Reckford kept a late charge from Switzerland at bay to win the race by just under a length. The U.S. finished with a time of 7:06.62, with the Swiss boat crossing in a 7:07.58. Ireland passed China to take third and earn the final spot for Tokyo.

"I do this because I love to race, and this race is exactly why I love racing," Reckford said. "Off the line, China launched an attack like I hadn't seen before, and the Swiss were pulling into us in the last 250. They are all so skilled. When I called responses, Michelle responded. This is why I row – moments like this, races like this."

With Reckford and Sechser having now qualified for Tokyo, the U.S. will have nine boats competing at the Olympic Games.

Unfortunately, the men's pair of Tom Peszek (Farmington Hills, Mich./University of Michigan) and Mike DiSanto (Boston, Mass./Harvard University) came up just short of an Olympic berth, finishing third behind The Netherlands and Denmark in the final.

The Americans earned their spot in the final thanks to a second-place finish in the second semifinal earlier in the day. In the semi, the duo sat about even with Poland at the 500-meter mark, just off the Dutch crew's pace, before taking control of the second qualifying position.

A couple of hours later, it was back to the start line for a shot at Tokyo. In the final, Denmark took the early lead, pressing the pace ahead of the Dutch crew during the first half of the race. The British boat sat in third place as the crews hit the midway point, with Peszek and DiSanto just behind in fourth.

During the third 500 meters, the U.S. pulled ahead of Great Britain for third and tried to chase down the top two crews. But as the boats crossed the finish line, The Netherlands edged ahead of the Danes to win a photo-finish in a 6:38.60, just 0.07 seconds ahead. Denmark finished with a time of 6:38.67, with the Americans another 2.10 seconds back in a 6:40.77.

Click here for the U.S. Final Olympic Qualification Regatta roster and bios. For complete coverage of the regatta, click here.

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be held July 23-August 9, with rowing events slated to start on the morning of July 23. Click here for the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Qualification Process Quick Guide.