U.S., Canadian Rowers face tough draws at Olympics—because it’s the Olympics.

All 12 of the U.S. crews and both of Canada’s qualified crews, the women’s eight and lightweight double, face tough paths to the finals, because this is the Olympics. Unlike World Rowing Championships, boats must qualify to compete at the Olympics, and with the quota for rowing having been further reduced, every crew racing here in Paris is fast, and there are no easy paths to the finals.

“Nothing out of the ordinary,” says Josy Verdonkschot, chief coach of the U.S. Olympic rowing squad. “From now on it’s just day by day.”

With much bigger qualified fields, the men’s (33) and women’s (32) single sculls are the only events requiring quarter and semi finals, giving U.S. scullers Kara Kohler and Jacob Plihal one fewer race to the finals if they win their heats on Saturday, July 27.

Kohler, seeded ninth, races in the 6th heat that includes current European champion Jovana Arsic from Serbia. Plihal is unseeded and faces Penn’s Dara Alizadeh representing—and carrying the flag in the opening ceremony for—Bermuda. Winners of the single sculls heats go directly to the quarter finals, all others race in the repechages.

The U.S. men’s and women’s double both have the Dutch in their heats, while the U.S. women’s quad has China, Great Britain, and Germany—the reigning Olympic, World, and World Cup champions, respectively—in theirs.

There are only tough draws in the Olympics.

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