| Date | 24 – 29 July 2021 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Sea Forest Waterway, 6-44, 3chome, Uminomori, Koto-ku, Tokyo Bay, Tokyo, Japan |
| Participants | 26 from 13 countries |
This event featured a very strong and potentially close field. The New Zealand pair of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler were considered the top favourite, being 2019 World Champions and holders of the world best time. Two other teams to watch, based on their performance at the 2019 Worlds, were Australia’s Annabelle McIntyre and Jessica Morrison, and Canada’s Caileigh Filmer and Hillary Janssens, respective silver and bronze medallists at that event. Another pair to be considered possible medal threats, if more recent success were any measure, were Russia’s Vasilisa Stepanova and Yelena Oryabinskaya, victors in the final Olympic Qualification Regatta, and Great Britain featured 2016 Olympic champion, Helen Glover being paired with new teammate, Polly Swann.
As expected, the favourites, with the exception of Australia, who faltered in the semi-finals, went through, with Greece and Spain filling out the finals field. This raised expectations for an exciting race, and the rowers did not disappoint. Canada broke out ahead at the start and at the midway point still held a narrow lead over New Zealand. The two ran close for a spell with New Zealand gradually edging ahead. Then the Russian team found another gear to overtake Canada and make a push at the leaders, but New Zealand held on for the gold, with the Russians taking silver, and Canada the bronze.
| Date | 24 July 2021 — 9:20 |
|---|---|
| Format | Winner of each heat advanced to final; all others to repêchage. |
| Time | 9:20 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Caileigh Filmer / Hillary Janssens |  CAN | 7:18.34 | 1:44.83 (1) | 3:35.08 (1) | 5:29.32 (1) | 1:50.25 (2) | 1:54.24 (2) | 1:49.02 (2) | ||
| 2 | 2 | Adriana Ailincăi / Iuliana Buhuș |  ROU | 7:20.36 | 1:45.46 (2) | 3:37.62 (3) | 5:31.95 (3) | 1:52.16 (5) | 1:54.33 (3) | 1:48.41 (1) | SA B | |
| 3 | 3 | Kiri Tontodonati / Aisha Rocek |  ITA | 7:22.79 | 1:46.87 (3) | 3:36.43 (2) | 5:30.85 (2) | 1:49.56 (1) | 1:54.42 (4) | 1:51.94 (3) | SA B | |
| 4 | 1 | Megan Kalmoe / Tracy Eisser |  USA | 7:26.95 | 1:50.43 (5) | 3:41.63 (5) | 5:34.76 (5) | 1:51.20 (3) | 1:53.13 (1) | 1:52.19 (4) | R | |
| 5 | 5 | Maria Kyridou / Christina Bourmpou |  GRE | 7:33.94 | 1:47.53 (4) | 3:38.98 (4) | 5:34.48 (4) | 1:51.45 (4) | 1:55.50 (5) | 1:59.46 (5) | R |
| Time | 9:30 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jess Morrison / Annabelle McIntyre |  AUS | 7:21.75 | 1:43.80 (1) | 3:34.04 (1) | 5:28.27 (1) | 1:50.24 (1) | 1:54.23 (1) | 1:53.48 (2) | ||
| 2 | 1 | Vasilisa Stepanova / Yelena Oryabinskaya |  ROC | 7:23.39 | 1:44.42 (3) | 3:34.93 (2) | 5:29.59 (2) | 1:50.51 (2) | 1:54.66 (2) | 1:53.80 (3) | SA B | |
| 3 | 2 | Helen Glover / Polly Swann |  GBR | 7:23.98 | 1:44.10 (2) | 3:34.95 (3) | 5:31.34 (3) | 1:50.85 (3) | 1:56.39 (3) | 1:52.64 (1) | SA B | |
| 4 | 4 | Huang Kaifeng / Liu Jinchao |  CHN | 7:45.55 | 1:47.68 (4) | 3:44.52 (4) | 5:47.01 (4) | 1:56.84 (4) | 2:02.49 (4) | 1:58.54 (4) | R |
| Time | 9:40 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Grace Prendergast / Kerri Gowler |  NZL | 7:19.08 | 1:45.32 (1) | 3:33.84 (1) | 5:27.11 (1) | 1:48.52 (1) | 1:53.27 (1) | 1:51.97 (4) | ||
| 2 | 3 | Lærke Berg Rasmussen / Fie Udby Erichsen |  DEN | 7:22.86 | 1:47.22 (2) | 3:38.84 (2) | 5:33.71 (2) | 1:51.62 (2) | 1:54.87 (4) | 1:49.15 (2) | SA B | |
| 3 | 1 | Aina Cid i Centelles / Virginia Díaz |  ESP | 7:23.14 | 1:50.45 (4) | 3:42.87 (4) | 5:36.73 (4) | 1:52.42 (3) | 1:53.86 (2) | 1:46.41 (1) | SA B | |
| 4 | 4 | Aileen Crowley / Monika Dukarska |  IRL | 7:24.71 | 1:48.45 (3) | 3:41.18 (3) | 5:35.53 (3) | 1:52.73 (4) | 1:54.35 (3) | 1:49.18 (3) | R |
| Date | 25 July 2021 — 9:50 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top 2 in each heat to A Final. |
| Time | 9:50 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Maria Kyridou / Christina Bourmpou | GRE | 7:28.00 | 1:46.90 (2) | 3:39.35 (1) | 5:35.16 (1) | 1:52.45 (1) | 1:55.81 (3) | 1:52.84 (1) | SA B | |
| 2 | 1 | Megan Kalmoe / Tracy Eisser | USA | 7:29.87 | 1:48.29 (4) | 3:41.04 (3) | 5:35.96 (2) | 1:52.75 (2) | 1:54.92 (1) | 1:53.91 (2) | SA B | |
| 3 | 2 | Aileen Crowley / Monika Dukarska | IRL | 7:31.99 | 1:46.84 (1) | 3:40.74 (2) | 5:36.51 (3) | 1:53.90 (3) | 1:55.77 (2) | 1:55.48 (3) | SA B | |
| 4 | 3 | Huang Kaifeng / Liu Jinchao | CHN | 7:45.17 | 1:48.02 (3) | 3:43.91 (4) | 5:44.52 (4) | 1:55.89 (4) | 2:00.61 (4) | 2:00.65 (4) |
| Date | 28 July 2021 — 12:20 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top 2 in each heat to A Final. |
| Time | 12:20 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Maria Kyridou / Christina Bourmpou | GRE | 6:48.70 | 1:43.44 (5) | 3:27.53 (4) | 5:11.33 (4) | 1:44.09 (4) | 1:43.80 (3) | 1:37.37 (1) | FA WB | |
| 2 | 2 | Helen Glover / Polly Swann | GBR | 6:49.39 | 1:39.98 (1) | 3:23.14 (1) | 5:07.33 (1) | 1:43.16 (1) | 1:44.19 (4) | 1:42.06 (4) | FA | |
| 3 | 3 | Caileigh Filmer / Hillary Janssens | CAN | 6:49.46 | 1:41.28 (2) | 3:25.18 (2) | 5:08.70 (2) | 1:43.90 (2) | 1:43.52 (2) | 1:40.76 (2) | FA | |
| 4 | 4 | Jess Morrison / Annabelle McIntyre | AUS | 6:49.82 | 1:41.33 (3) | 3:25.25 (3) | 5:08.71 (3) | 1:43.92 (3) | 1:43.46 (1) | 1:41.11 (3) | FB | |
| 5 | 1 | Aileen Crowley / Monika Dukarska | IRL | 7:06.07 | 1:42.85 (4) | 3:29.18 (5) | 5:18.03 (6) | 1:46.33 (6) | 1:48.85 (6) | 1:48.04 (5) | FB | |
| 6 | 5 | Lærke Berg Rasmussen / Fie Udby Erichsen | DEN | 7:08.44 | 1:44.53 (6) | 3:29.54 (6) | 5:16.59 (5) | 1:45.01 (5) | 1:47.05 (5) | 1:51.85 (6) | FB |
| Time | 12:30 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Grace Prendergast / Kerri Gowler | NZL | 6:47.41 | 1:40.82 (1) | 3:22.74 (1) | 5:04.76 (1) | 1:41.92 (1) | 1:42.02 (2) | 1:42.65 (3) | FA WB | |
| 2 | 5 | Vasilisa Stepanova / Yelena Oryabinskaya | ROC | 6:50.24 | 1:41.60 (2) | 3:25.20 (2) | 5:09.03 (2) | 1:43.60 (2) | 1:43.83 (3) | 1:41.21 (2) | FA | |
| 3 | 6 | Aina Cid i Centelles / Virginia Díaz | ESP | 6:50.63 | 1:45.32 (6) | 3:30.57 (6) | 5:11.94 (3) | 1:45.25 (5) | 1:41.37 (1) | 1:38.69 (1) | FA | |
| 4 | 3 | Adriana Ailincăi / Iuliana Buhuș | ROU | 6:58.55 | 1:42.51 (3) | 3:27.45 (3) | 5:12.50 (4) | 1:44.94 (4) | 1:45.05 (4) | 1:46.05 (4) | FB | |
| 5 | 1 | Megan Kalmoe / Tracy Eisser | USA | 7:02.52 | 1:44.06 (4) | 3:29.58 (4) | 5:15.03 (5) | 1:45.52 (6) | 1:45.45 (5) | 1:47.49 (6) | FB | |
| 6 | 2 | Kiri Tontodonati / Aisha Rocek | ITA | 7:04.52 | 1:45.31 (5) | 3:30.08 (5) | 5:17.08 (6) | 1:44.77 (3) | 1:47.00 (6) | 1:47.44 (5) | FB |
| Date | 29 July 2021 — 8:40 |
|---|
| Time | 9:30 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Grace Prendergast / Kerri Gowler | NZL | 6:50.19 | 1:41.79 (2) | 3:25.49 (2) | 5:08.72 (1) | 1:43.70 (1) | 1:43.23 (2) | 1:41.47 (3) | ||
| 2 | 5 | Vasilisa Stepanova / Yelena Oryabinskaya | ROC | 6:51.45 | 1:42.93 (4) | 3:27.88 (4) | 5:10.30 (3) | 1:44.95 (3) | 1:42.42 (1) | 1:41.15 (2) | ||
| 3 | 1 | Caileigh Filmer / Hillary Janssens | CAN | 6:52.10 | 1:40.81 (1) | 3:25.08 (1) | 5:09.51 (2) | 1:44.27 (2) | 1:44.43 (4) | 1:42.59 (4) | ||
| 4 | 2 | Helen Glover / Polly Swann | GBR | 6:54.96 | 1:42.36 (3) | 3:27.58 (3) | 5:11.66 (4) | 1:45.22 (4) | 1:44.08 (3) | 1:43.30 (6) | ||
| 5 | 3 | Maria Kyridou / Christina Bourmpou | GRE | 6:57.11 | 1:44.44 (5) | 3:31.15 (5) | 5:16.90 (5) | 1:46.71 (6) | 1:45.75 (6) | 1:40.21 (1) | ||
| 6 | 6 | Aina Cid i Centelles / Virginia Díaz | ESP | 7:00.05 | 1:46.15 (6) | 3:32.83 (6) | 5:17.45 (6) | 1:46.68 (5) | 1:44.62 (5) | 1:42.60 (5) |
| Time | 8:40 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jess Morrison / Annabelle McIntyre | AUS | 6:56.46 | 1:41.93 (3) | 3:27.06 (1) | 5:12.02 (1) | 1:45.13 (1) | 1:44.96 (1) | 1:44.44 (2) | ||
| 2 | 6 | Lærke Berg Rasmussen / Fie Udby Erichsen | DEN | 6:59.48 | 1:42.79 (4) | 3:28.61 (4) | 5:14.74 (2) | 1:45.82 (2) | 1:46.13 (2) | 1:44.74 (3) | ||
| 3 | 4 | Adriana Ailincăi / Iuliana Buhuș | ROU | 7:01.02 | 1:41.63 (1) | 3:28.28 (2) | 5:15.88 (3) | 1:46.65 (5) | 1:47.60 (5) | 1:45.14 (4) | ||
| 4 | 2 | Megan Kalmoe / Tracy Eisser | USA | 7:02.16 | 1:43.54 (5) | 3:30.13 (5) | 5:16.57 (5) | 1:46.59 (3) | 1:46.44 (3) | 1:45.59 (5) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Aileen Crowley / Monika Dukarska | IRL | 7:02.22 | 1:41.81 (2) | 3:28.45 (3) | 5:16.30 (4) | 1:46.64 (4) | 1:47.85 (6) | 1:45.92 (6) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Kiri Tontodonati / Aisha Rocek | ITA | 7:04.46 | 1:45.66 (6) | 3:33.23 (6) | 5:20.24 (6) | 1:47.57 (6) | 1:47.01 (4) | 1:44.22 (1) |
