Format Notes

In single sculls, 32 athletes are divided into six preliminary heats, with the top three from each heat (18 total) qualifying directly to the quarterfinals. The remainder go to the repechage round, there are three heats, with the top 2 qualifying for the quarterfinals (6, to make 24 quarterfinalists). In the quarterfinals, the top three in each of four heats advance to the semifinals, and in the semifinals, the top three in each of two heats qualify for the final. In all rounds, non-qualifying competitors continue to compete through the placing rounds. 

In eights, seven boats compete in two preliminary heats, with the top boat in each qualifying for the final. The remaining five go to the repechage round, which is a single heat with the top 4 qualifying for the final. Thus, only one team is eliminated before the final.

Athlete Bios

Paige Badenhorst, South Africa (2017-2021): Paige Badenhorst will compete in her first Olympics, in the single sculls. She qualified for these Olympics via South Africa’s performance at the African Qualification Regatta, and subsequently through her performance at the South Africa Olympic trials. This is her first major international competition in this event. While at Michigan, Badenhorst was a member of two Big Ten Championship teams, including joining Dent on the 2021 squad. 

Abby Dent, Canada (2020-present): Abby Dent is a redshirt senior who will rejoin the Wolverines this fall. The redshirt in question was this year, which she took off in order to train with the Canadian Olympic team and eventually qualify for these Olympics. She will compete in the women’s eights. This is Dent’s first international competition at the senior level, though she has competed for Canada in the U23s on multiple occasions. Dent was on two different Big Ten Championship teams at Michigan, and won Big Ten event titles in second eights in 2021 and first eights in 2023. She was the 2023 Big Ten Athlete of the Year in Rowing.