Czech singles magic

Ondrej Synek is the favourite going into the men’s single as he comes off an unbeaten season while Mirka Knapkova has spent this season preparing to go after gold in the women’s single.

The two scullers train separately with different coaches and different training camps and training schedules. They come together as part of the Czech team at international events. Knapkova came into the single in 2001 and it did not take her long to be up there with the best in the world. Since 2002 she has never been out of an A-final but she is yet to secure a World Championship gold.

This year Knapkova is putting herself in the best position possible. She was the first to arrive in New Zealand from overseas, one month ahead of these World Rowing Championships and the long season has worked in her favour.

“I had some problems with my ankle last winter (a pulled ligament in training) and I had to have an operation,” says Knapkova. “So I started my season later. I started rehabilitation in February. I did have problems with my physical conditioning but I feel better psychologically because the season has not been so long for me.”

With the great Vaclav Chalupa the top single sculler for the Czech Republic, Synek started out racing internationally in doubles and quads. His first international race, the junior men’s double sculls in 2000, Synek saw success with a bronze medal.  Synek went on to race at the 2004 Olympic Games in the double finishing a very solid fifth. The following year Synek beat Chalupa at his country’s national championships and became the men’s single scull for the Czech Republic, breaking a 14-year streak by Chalupa.

Synek’s first season internationally in the single was the same as World Champion New Zealander Mahe Drysdale and, like Drysdale, Synek was successful from the start. At his first international event in the single, the Rowing World Cup in Eton in 2005, Synek won gold  and went on to take bronze at that year’s World Rowing Championships. Since then there have only been two occasions on which Synek has not made the A-final.

In 2010 Synek has been getting everything right and has won every international race that he has entered. “It has been a great season this year,” says Synek. “I have never been in this good condition.” Synek also says that he has a new boat. “I think it is better for my style and I think it is a good choice for me.”

For the last four World Championships the top spot has gone to Drysdale, leaving Synek with a pile of smaller medals. This year he sees it as his turn to win gold. Before Synek left for New Zealand he told the Czech press, “Nothing else would please me, but anything can happen.”

Two days after Synek’s finals race his fiancée, Pavla Bezova is expecting to give birth to their first child. “I hope they will wait for me with the delivery,” says Synek. “If it comes sooner, I will feel a little sorry.”

Knapkova, on the other hand, does not see gold as a strong possibility for her, “I will definitely be pleased with any medal,” says Knapkova. “I think Karsten [World Champion Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus] is beatable, but in five years I have not been able to. It’s not easy. She’s a very good rower and has a lot of experience.”
The women’s  single is scheduled for 15:33 New Zealand time on Saturday 6 November with the men’s single following at 15:53.