East Germany had won the coxless pair competition at every Summer Olympics since the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, and they were the reigning world champion.[3][4] The Soviet Union had won silver at the last Summer Olympics in this event,[5] had won the 1981 World Rowing Championships,[6] and had won silver in 1983.[4] With both nations absent due to the Soviet Bloc boycott, the only competing nation that had won recent world championships was Norway, which had won the title in 1982.[7] The competition was thus regarded as wide open.[3]
The heats of the opening round were rowed on 31 July. The first three of every heat would progress to the semi-finals, whilst the other teams would go to the repechage.[8]
The A final was rowed on 5 August.[2] Spain was a surprise medallist, and as of 2021, their silver medal is the only Olympic rowing medal that the nation has ever won.[3]
Perelman, Richard B., ed. (1985). Official Report Los Angeles 1984, Volume 1: Organization and Planning. Los Angeles: Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee.
Perelman, Richard B., ed. (1985). Official Report Los Angeles 1984, Volume 2: Competition and Summary and Results. Los Angeles: Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee.
