We came into the men's quads event with several European challengers for medals, and a lucky Lithuanian quartet who had been called up within days of racing starting after two of the Russian crew tested positive for meldonium after taking the second Tokyo place at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta (FOQR). Lithuania, as the next quickest non-qualifiers, had been warned by contacts as soon as the Russian tests were in, and clearly had their COVID tests and paperwork ready to zoom off to the Games. Meanwhile the Dutch 2019 champions and enviably elegant rowers had been caught napping by Italy at the 2021