Tokyo Olympics: Victoria Thornley becomes FIRST Team GB woman to make final of single sculls

Victoria Thornley becomes makes final of Olympic women’s single sculls… with Team GB star passing Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig to finish Tokyo semi-final in second

Victoria Thornley has qualified for the final of the Olympics women’s single sculls after an excellent performance in the semi-final. 

The 33-year-old came second in the semi-final behind New Zealand‘s Emma Twigg, who was the comfortable winner, finishing 4.42 seconds ahead of Thornley.

The Team GB star was in a real tussle with her American counterpart Kara Kohler to snatch a qualification spot.

Victoria Thornley has qualified for the final of the Olympics women’s single sculls

The 33-year-old came second in the semi-final behind New Zealand's Emma Twigg

The 33-year-old came second in the semi-final behind New Zealand’s Emma Twigg

Kohler – who ended up missing out on a spot in the final – launched a late assault in a bid to finish above Thornley, but the Brit matched the American’s acceleration.  

Thornley then managed to move ahead of Magdalena Lobnig from Austria before crossing the line ahead of her and giving herself a chance of winning a medal in  Friday’s final.

But Twigg will be equally determined to earn a medal having agonisingly finished in fourth in the event final in Rio five years ago and at London 2012.

The New Zealand star took a two-year hiatus away from the sport following the Rio Olympics, but has now come back in time to earn one final shot at Olympic glory.

Thornley managed to move ahead of Magdalena Lobnig from Austria before crossing the line

Thornley managed to move ahead of Magdalena Lobnig from Austria before crossing the line

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