The Canadian women's rowing team, the defending champions, secured their second consecutive Olympic medal today, Saturday, by clinching the silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

The Canadians finished the race with a time of five minutes and 58.84 seconds at the Vaires-sur-Marne aquatic center, behind Romania, the gold medalists, who finished the race in five minutes and 54.39 seconds.

Canada found itself in a close battle with Great Britain for second place 500 meters from the finish, but managed to hold off their rivals to claim the silver medal.

Avalon Wastneyz from Campbell River, British Columbia, said she knew the Canadians would have to give their all until the end.

She added, "I knew they were close, I knew the race would be tough, and I was trying with everything I've got to find every ounce of energy, and in the end, trying to leave the race course with no regrets."

Kristin Kitt, the boat leader from St. Catharines, Ontario, said the Canadians did not have the best start and had to adjust their plan.

She continued, "I made an executive decision to keep us in a high position and get us into the race, and we were in the race." "Honestly, I was really grateful that the women trusted me to change the race tactics at a critical moment."

The Canadians entered Paris as the gold medal holders in the event after winning at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, Kitt said the team had slipped in ranking since the last Olympics and "really struggled" to regain their level.

Kitt, who said she would retire after Paris, explained, "Achieving this together in nine months, it's a dream come true."

Four team members returned from the Tokyo Games: Kitt from St. Catharines, Ontario, Kasia Gruszala-Wysierski from Calgary, and Sydney Payne and Wastneyz from Toronto.

Five others - Abi Dent from Kenora, Ontario, Kylie Philmer from Victoria, Maya Mishkulit from Mississauga, Ontario, Jessica Civc from Strathmore, Alta, and Christina Walker from Wolfe Island, Ontario - joined the returning members of this year's team.

The team qualified for Saturday's finals after finishing second in the heats on Thursday.

Canada has now won a medal in rowing at every Olympic Games since 1992.