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Women's single sculls at the Games of the XXI Olympiad
The competition consisted of two main rounds (heats and finals) as well as a repechage. The 11 competitors were divided into two heats for the first round, with 5 boats in one heat and 6 in the other. The winner of each heat advanced directly to the "A" final (1st through 6th place). The remaining 9 rowers were placed in the repechage. Two heats were held in the repechage, with 4 boats in one and 5 in the other. The top two boats in each heat of the repechage went to the "A" final as well. The remaining 5 boats (3rd, 4th, and 5th placers in the repechage heats) competed in the "B" final for 7th through 11th place.