Tasmanian rower Alexandra Viney has secured a second shot at a Paralympic medal after locking in another A-final.
Three years after an agonising fourth-place finish in Tokyo, the Launceston-born 32-year-old helped her PR3 mixed coxed four crew progress into the decider in Paris.
Having finished third in Friday’s heat at the Vaires-sur-Marne Stadium, the crew of Viney in seat two plus Tom Birtwhistle, Susannah Lutze, Tobiah Goffsassen and cox Hannah Cowap stormed to victory in the repechage.
With only the first two destined to reach the A-final, Italy and Australia exchanged the lead over the first half of the race, but the Aussies produced a dominant final kilometre to win comfortably with Viney leading the back-slapping after crossing the finish line.
Despite choppy conditions, the Aussies clocked 6:55.47, much faster than their heat (7:02.74) and their best international time to date. Italy (6:57.29) also progressed with both crews well clear of third-placed Spain (7:02.50).
Sunday’s A-final at 8.30pm will see them line up alongside automatic qualifiers USA, France, Germany and favourites Great Britain who are chasing a fourth consecutive gold medal in the event.