By ,
Published November 20, 2014
Great Britain's Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins roared into the women's double sculls final on Monday, setting an Olympic record to win their heat.
Grainger is one of the most successful rowers in British history, but is chasing her first gold. She has silvered three times in her Olympic career and is undefeated since teaming with Watkins three years ago.
The duo crossed the finish line in 6:44.33 on Monday on Dorney Lake. That bested the previous mark of six minutes, 49 seconds set by Germans Kerstin Koppen and Kathrin Boron at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Australia's Brooke Pratley and Kim Crow, who is also rowing in the women's singles sculls, won their heat to advance as well, while the U.S. finished third and failed to qualify for the final. The pair of Margot Shumway and Sarah Trowbridge will get another chance to move on in the repechage.
Teams from Great Britain and Canada advanced to the men's eight final, with the Netherlands and Australia also moving on following the repechage. The United States, along with Germany, had already qualified for the final.
In other repechages on Monday, Romania and Germany advanced to the final of the women's pair, while the U.S. was one of four boats to move on in the women's quadruple sculls.
The Americans also put a boat into the final of the men's pair, but failed to advance out of the repechage in men's quadruple sculls.
Heats in the men's four took place as well. The U.S. was one of nine teams to advance to the semifinal, winning the third heat with a time of 5:54.88.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/british-pair-sets-or-in-womens-double-sculls