18 Jan 2012
Adaptive celebrates big victories in A Finals
Adaptive rowing has come of age at this World Championships with double the number of entries, eight Paralympic Games qualifying spots, and three new World Best times.
German crowds at the Olympic Regatta Course in Oberschleissheim had to wait until the last event of the day for Germany’s first gold medal of the day. The stands were packed with Germans waiving flags. The top four boats in the LTAMX4+ charged for the finish line just seconds apart. The crowd taunted and cheered. The rowers responded with intensity and world class form. Germany held off Great Britain by a mere second, Canada another second back, and Italy right there too missing out on the medals by a fraction of a second. Even rain during the medal ceremony could not cool the German fans. Umbrellas popped out and the crowd stayed to hear their much awaited national anthem.
The German gold winning crew of Kathrin Wolff, Marcus Klemp, Michael Sauer, Susanne Lackner and Arne Maury let their emotions match the crowd’s elation. Victory punches and slaps in the water. Adaptive rowers are here to claim their victory.
Germany was not the only country overjoyed with adaptive results. Brazil flew their flag in triumph after wins in the arms women’s single and the trunk and arms double.
In her first time racing the AW1x, Claudia Santos had to overtake Lludmila Vauchok after trailing in the first 500 metres. Santos squeaked out gold by just one second over the Belarusian. Poland’s Martyna Snopek had to settle for bronze again as at last year’s World Championships in Eton. Santos’ time of 5:57.58 shattered the previous World Best time by over 15 seconds of 2006 World Champion Helene Raynsford of Great Britain, who had to settle for fifth today. American Laura Schwanger, silver medallist last year, took sixth.
Dominic Monypenny, a two-time World Champion in the AM1x, and last year’s silver medallist Ronald Harvey of USA, also succumbed in the final to the arrival of a new wave of adaptive rowers. Tom Aggar of Great Britain made his mark to topple Monypenny’s 2006 World Best time (5:28.87) on his way to winning his first world title in 5:13.13. Less than two seconds separated winner Aggar, Monypenny for silver, and Israel’s Ell Nawi for bronze. Ronald Harvey of the USA finished for fifth behind France’s Patrick Laureau. Pierre Morel was sixth.
Brazil’s trunk and arm double stroke Josiane Lima returned to better last year’s eighth position, picking up new partner Lucas Pagani just a month ago. Not only did they beat out three-time World Champions from USA and last year’s silver medallists from Poland, but they stroked away to a new World Best time of 4:10.69. Rookies John Maclean and Kathryn Ross from Australia took home silver, and the Polish for bronze. Italy fourth was forth, USA were displaced again to fifth, and Ukraine sixth.
AM1x
Tom Aggar (GBR) – Gold medallist
It is an incredible feeling to have won this race. At the end I had nothing left to give. Dominic was pushing me very hard.”
Dominic Monypenny (AUS) – Silver medallist
“It was a very hard race, the English guy is so young and so tall, but this was the best competition between Eli, Tom and myself. There is a lovely atmosphere here, you really can feel the crowd is pushing you forward.”
Eli Nawi (ISR) – Bronze medallist
“I am very disappointed. I wanted to win, but didn’t have a good race. Then again this was my first serious race so in a way I am also glad about this medal.”
AW1x
Claudia Santos (BRA) – Gold medallist
“I am very excited about this gold medal and very emotional too. I always believed in myself and in God and I knew I could do it.”
Martyna Snopek (POL) – Bronze medallist
“I am just overwhelmed, I thought I was fifth, and then I saw the board and saw I am actually third. I just couldn’t believe it. After this race I am really exhausted.”
TA2x
Lucas Pagani, Josiane Lima (BRA) – Gold medallists
“It’s a wonderful competition, and we are so excited about the gold medal, because Lucas and I have only been training together for one month.” (Josiane Lima)
John Maclean, Kathryn Ross (AUS) – Silver medallists
“It is a great event, great to be proud of it. We can still improve and look forward to Beijing.” (John Maclean)
Piotr Majka, Jolanta Pawlak (POL) – Bronze medallists
“It was a good race, we have a very strong man and a very strong woman in the boat. Brazil was the favourite, but I am sure positions can still change until Beijing.” (Tomasz Kazierczak, coach)
LTAMX4+
Kathrin Wolff, Marcus Klemp, Michael Sauer, Susanne Lackner, Arne Maury (GER) – Gold medallists
“We are very happy; it was a hard race, but a great one.” (Michael Sauer)
Victoria Hansford, Alan Crowther, Alastair McKean, Naomi Riches, Alan Sherman (GBR) – Silver medallists
“We are not happy, it’s not the best race. We have to train harder for next year.” (Naomi Riches)
“We didn’t quite get what we wanted, so we have to train even harder.” (Alastair McKean)
Anthony Theriault, Scott Rand, Meghan Montgomery, Victoria Nolan, Laura Comeau (CAN) – Bronze medallists
“We had a delay at the start and the stretches for the warm-up could have been longer, but it was an awesome race, it was great that so many boats competed here.” (Team Canada)