Ireland's Lydia Heaphy has progressed into the semi-finals of the women's lightweight sculls at the rowing World Championship.
Heaphy failed to qualify for the semi-final stage automatically on Sunday when she finished her race in third place less than a second behind Nazanin Malaei of Iran.
As a result, the 24-year-old was back on the water on Tuesday in a do or die situation. Heaphy made her intentions clear from the off this morning, racing into an early lead during opening stages of the race.
European silver medalist Zoi Fitsiou took control of the race from around the midway point and powered home to victory in a time of 7:40.03.
Heaphy was right on her tail for the entire race and eventually secured second place, finishing three seconds behind Fitsiou, completing the 500m course in 7:43.48.
A top-two finish was precisely what the Corkwoman needed to qualify for the semi-final. A richly deserved days rest is in store tomorrow, before the big semi-final race takes place on Thursday.
The Leap native has long been a woman for the big occasion and it's no surprise that she has fought her way into the semi-finals. Heaphy finished 11th at the World Championships in 2019, and is also an U-23 European champion, a title she picked up in 2020.
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