A slick start sees Mead establish an early lead. Inside the first two minutes Sam Clark’s crew snatch two thirds of a length on Rapinoe but umpire Matt Smith is already warning the green-haired cox for his line. Unflappable, Rapinoe hold their ground. They dig-in and limit the damage. The margin remains unchanged despite the Fulham bend. Ragged, rugged and racy, Rapinoe refuse to yield and they set light to the Crabtree Reach, rating 36. Mead settled lower and their smooth, consistent rhythm is in stark contrast to their steering. “Move Mead!” Smith commands Clark before the two crews clash in front of Harrods Depository and again beyond Hammersmith Bridge.

Around their Surrey bend, Rapinoe elbow themselves out to almost a length’s lead before Mead veers into them again, this time with unquestionable consequences. As her blade clashes with Rapinoe’s strokewoman, Rosa Millard, Vera Kunz catches a huge boat-stopper. Momentarily pinned prone beneath her oar handle, Kunz struggles in vain to unhook the blade. A futile wrestle - painfully slow – eventually sees her regain control of the oar but Rapinoe are long gone.

At the request of Head Coach Paddy Ryan, Smith red flags the race and restarts the crews on equal terms with about 1.25 miles remaining. Again, Mead has the cleaner, quicker start but they settle perilously low. Likewise, Rapinoe’s cast-iron tenacity is clear to see, punching out a high-rating, high-energy output around the outside of the final bend. Another heart-in-the-mouth moment as the two crews seem in danger of converging as they scramble through Barnes Bridge. Here, Mead has two thirds of a length on Rapinoe.

It should be a done deal but it isn’t. Rapinoe claw their way back around the outside of the bend. With a mere handful of strokes left before the finish, it looks like Mead will hang on. Both crews cross the line, exhausted and delighted in equal measure, not by the result, which they are yet to discover, but by their collective efforts. “That was awesome! I’m so proud of you all,” an Aussie voice enthuses. It belongs to Coach Ryan who is ecstatic. Smith makes the call: Six inches to Rapinoe.

“It was so good! With the finish as close as it was – that was such an exciting opportunity to have deeply dedicated matched crews,” says Isabelle Bastian, six seat of Rapinoe. “I think our coxswain [Kate Crowley] called it really well. Again, it was just grittiness from both boats to not let anyone get a lot of traction. It happened that we were on the surge right at the line. It was bowball to bowball. Full credit to both crews for driving it. I’m sure everyone was in deep pain; I know I was!”

Watch the full race here