Wednesday races called off due to bad weather

The rowing competition has been dogged by inclement weather since the beginning of the Olympics.

However, a second day in four has been forced off after the weather was deemed too bad in rainy Rio on Wednesday. The races on Sunday last were postponed for a day when strong winds caused problems on the lagoon.

An initial postponement was followed 20 minutes later by confirmation from the World Rowing Federation (FISA) that racing was off for the day.

Now, however, the Team GB quartet of Jack Beaumont, Sam Townsend, Angus Groom and Peter Lambert will now have to wait to race for a medal.

Ireland’s double sculls partners of Sinead Lynch and Claire Lambe were due to take to the water for their semi-final while Gary and Paul O’Donovan were set to compete in the men’s equivalent shortly after.

Executive director of organisers FISA, Matt Smith, previously described the winds as “dramatic” and unforeseen by local experts, and maintained that he expected conditions to calm down enough to complete the regatta on schedule this weekend.

“Having looked at the forecast at 12:00, at 18:00 and tomorrow morning at 06:30 we will give an indication about the afternoon (on Thursday)”, he said.