23 Jan 2012
Athlete Quotes - Finals Day 2
LW4x
Quotes from Xuefei FAN (CHN), Kirsten JEPSEN (DEN), Hester GOODSELL (GBR) and Laura RALSTON (GBR) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the women’s lightweight quads.
Xuefei FAN (CHN) – gold medallist, women’s lightweight quads
On the race:
“Our coach gave us a very strict race plan and we followed it all the way, we were told that if it was very close we had to go for a burn but there was no real need. We’re very happy with our win.”
Kirsten JEPSEN (DEN) – silver medallist, women’s lightweight quads
On the race:
“It was a good race. We were going for gold but we were eventually happy with what we got.”
On the gold medal winning Chinese crew:
“The Chinese were in control to be honest. They got away early and then just took off. They are full-time, which makes a difference, whereas we all fit rowing in as a hobby.”
Hester GOODSELL (GBR) – bronze medallist, women’s lightweight quads
On the race:
“We knew we’d have to work very hard, so we’re very happy. We’ve only been together for three-and-a-half weeks.”
On the change of pace for the British bow Laura RALSTON:
“The race was really fast for Laura as she’s just come from being in a single.”
Laura RALSTON (GBR) – bronze medallist, women’s lightweight quads
On the race:
“We always had a really good race pace. It was our fastest race all week.”
LM4x
Quotes from Daniele GILARDONI (ITA), Kai ANSPACH (GER) and Remi DI GIROLAMO (FRA) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s lightweight quadruple sculls.
Daniele GILARDONI (ITA) – gold medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“The wind was not so good but we got into a good rhythm. Great Britain started well and very fast but after the thousand [metres] I was pretty sure that we had it.”
Kai ANSPACH (GER) – silver medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“We had an average start but tried to keep calm and keep our speed up. Our finish was great – the crowd really keeps you going. Generally the problem is the wind.”
Remi DI GIROLAMO (FRA) – bronze medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“It was a very good race, we gave the best we could give. One hundred per cent out of 100 per cent. Even if technically we weren’t quite so sound. This will give a boost to rowing in France.”
LW2x
Quotes from XU Dongxiang (CHN), Amber HALLIDAY (AUS) and Chrysi BISKITZI (GRE) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the women’s lightweight double sculls.
Dongxiang XU (CHN) – gold medallist, women’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“Our race went similar to training and we were treating it as a preparation for [the Beijing Olympic Games in] 2008.”
On China’s recipe for rowing success:
“The success of Chinese rowing is because of a very solid training programme with very demanding and strict coaches.”
Amber HALLIDAY (AUS) – silver medallist, women’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“It’s been very similar to [the 2004 Olympic Games in] Athens – a good heat and semi and then not knowing what to expect in the final, there’s been a sense of familiarity.”
“China pinched my [world’s best] time earlier this year in [the World Cup event in] Poznan so we knew they’d be the crew to beat.”
On her future plans:
“It’s been a natural thing to step into a boat with Marguerite [HOUSTON, AUS]. We’ll want to stay in a double for Beijing but it all depends on selection.”
Chrysi BISKITZI (GRE) – bronze medallist, women’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“It was quite unexpected. Inside we believed we could do something. We had a lot of patience and did not want to make our move too early, but when we did we got it right.”
“In my opinion the Chinese are a class above, then the rest of us are all at the same level.”
LM2x
Quotes from Daniele GILARDONI (ITA), Kai ANSPACH (GER) and Remi DI GIROLAMO (FRA) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s lightweight quadruple sculls.
Daniele GILARDONI (ITA) – gold medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“The wind was not so good but we got into a good rhythm. Great Britain started well and very fast but after the thousand [metres] I was pretty sure that we had it.”
Kai ANSPACH (GER) – silver medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“We had an average start but tried to keep calm and keep our speed up. Our finish was great – the crowd really keeps you going. Generally the problem is the wind.”
Remi DI GIROLAMO (FRA) – bronze medallist, men’s lightweight quadruple sculls
On the race:
“It was a very good race, we gave the best we could give. One hundred per cent out of 100 per cent. Even if technically we weren’t quite so sound. This will give a boost to rowing in France.”
LM2x
Quotes from Rasmus HANSEN (DEN), Marcello MIANI (ITA) and Fabrice MOREAU (FRA) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s lightweight double sculls.
Rasmus QUIST (DEN) – gold medallist, men’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“We had a fast start so we had to take advantage of it in choppy water. At 1000m we saw the Australians were in trouble in the conditions.”
"We had to control the finish so that we didn’t crab. We couldn’t sprint as there was no energy left.”
Marcello MIANI (ITA) – silver medallist, men’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“The start was good, I wasn’t aware of what the other crews were doing because I had my eyes to the front at all times. I’m happy with silver.”
Fabrice MOREAU (FRA) – bronze medallist, men’s lightweight double sculls
On the race:
“There was some wind, Denmark went off very fast and after that it was a matter of fighting for the silver.”
“Then the Italians got past us and I could see the Australians coming up very fast on us, so I’m glad we were able to hold them off.”
“Getting a medal was the most important thing.”
LM2-
Quotes from Ole RUECKBRODT (GER), Juan Manuel FLORIDO PELLON (ESP) and Salvatore DI SOMMA (ITA) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s lightweight pairs.
Ole RUECKERODT (GER) – gold medallist, men’s lightweight pairs
On the race:
“We’ve only been a pair for two months as we’re the spares for the coxless four in Germany. We can’t be so bad as we’ve got a medal. It’s our best win in the whole season.”
Juan Manuel FLORIDO PELLON (ESP) – silver medallist, men’s lightweight pairs
On the race:
"It was very good, there was a lot of wind and it was quite difficult for us."
On his future plans:
"Next year I’m going to try for the coxless fours but I know we will always have room for improvement."
Salvatore DI SOMMA (ITA) – bronze medallist, men’s lightweight pairs
On the race:
“The start was very beautiful, the best in our three days [of racing]. After 200m we were going so well I thought there was no possibility that we’d lose a medal.”
M8+
Quotes from Sebastian SCHULTE (GER), Niccolo MORNATI (ITA) and Marcus Mc ELHENNEY (USA) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s eight.
Sebastian SCHULTE (GER) – gold medallist, men’s eight
On the race:
“It’s an awesome feeling beating the champions [the USA]. Our preparation was perfect and we aimed to go really fast off the start. We got into a perfect rhythm and were leading the field from 500m.”
“I crabbed once but it didn’t matter. The whole thing is an emotional moonwalk.”
Niccolo MORNATI (ITA) – silver medallist, men’s eight
On the race:
“It was a good race, we hoped that we would get into the top three. Our lane was not very good at the start.”
“We knew the Germans were fast in the early part of the race. We tried to use the Germans like a fox but in the end we just could not catch them.”
Marcus Mc ELHENNEY (USA) – bronze medallist, men’s eight
On the race:
“Today it was their race. It happens sometimes.”
W8+
Quotes from Anna GOODALE (USA), Nina WENGERT (GER) and Robyn SELBY SMITH (AUS) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the women’s eight.
Anna GOODALE (USA) – gold medallist, women’s eight
On the race:
“That was pretty damn hot. It was up with the best of our races. Simply awesome.”
“We had a good start and that’s our speciality. We were up after 500m and then kept at it all the way.”
Nina WENGERT (GER) – silver medallist, women’s eight
On the race:
“It was good for us, we were fast into the race but I thought we could compete.”
Robyn SELBY SMITH (AUS) – bronze medallist, women’s eight
On the race:
“We were lucky to hold onto third, we didn’t have a clean or composed race. There was a very strong wind and we weren’t that fast out of the start.”
W4x
Quotes from Olga SAMULENKOVA (RUS), Irina FEDOTOVA (RUS), Sarah WINKLESS (GBR), Katherine GRAINGER (GBR), Frances HOUGHTON (GBR) and Catriona SENS (AUS) after their boats finished first, second and third in the women’s quadruple sculls.
Olga SAMULENKOVA (RUS) – gold medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On the race:
“There was a very strong wind it was very difficult out there for us”
Irina FEDOTOVA (RUS) – gold medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On her reaction to victory:
“I thought we could win and we did. Now all I want to do is go away and sleep.”
Sarah WINCKLESS (GBR) – silver medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On the race:
“We’re incredibly disappointed. We came here to win for our home crowd. Nothing went wrong, we put together our race plan.”
Katherine GRAINGER (GBR) – silver medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On coming second at Dorney Lake:
“We wanted to be proud and do it on home ground. We’ll get over it but our first reaction is absolute devastation.”
“It’s probably the most painful experience of my career, especially in front of a home crowd. But the experience will make us better.”
Frances HOUGHTON (GBR) – silver medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On the opposition:
“We knew it was going to be really tough, the tightest it has ever been. We were in amongst it but that’s the great thing about sport.”
Catriona SENS (AUS) – bronze medallist, women’s quadruple sculls
On the race:
“It was good to get a medal but it’s a shame it is the wrong colour. The conditions were hard and it was difficult to focus.”
“The crowd favoured the Brits but it was the same for us in Sydney [at the 2000 Olympic Games].”
M4x
Quotes from Marek KOLBOWICZ (POL), Dmytro PROKOPENKO (UKR) and Tonu ENDREKSON (EST) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the men’s quadruple sculls.
Marek KOLBOWICZ (POL) – gold medallist, men’s quadruple sculls
On the race:
“We had a very difficult race but it is always so for the defending champion.”
On being a rower in Poland:
“We have great problems finding funding back home so we hope our win will help.”
Dmytro PROKOPENKO (UKR) – silver medallist, men’s quadruple sculls
On competing at the 2006 World Rowing Championships:
“We didn’t go to the Rowing World Cups [this year] apart from Poznan, so the World Championship was really important for us.”
Tonu ENDREKSON (EST) – bronze medallist, men’s quadruple sculls
On the race:
“It was very hard, we had a new squad, two of us are new and we’ve only been together a couple of months.”
“Of course we would like to have done better. We coped with the wind okay, but we could have been technically better.”
LM4-
Qutes from Zhongming HUANG (CHN), Franck SOLFOROSI (FRA) and Richard ARCHIBALD (IRL) after their boats finished first, second and third respectively in the lightweight men’s four.
Zhongming HUANG (CHN) – gold medallist, lightweight men’s four
On the race:
“We planned to row our best ever race. To get the first men’s gold in the Olympic events was fantastic. We’ve gained a lot of honour for men’s rowing in China.”
Franck SOLFOROSI (FRA) – silver medallist, lightweight men’s four
On the race:
“We didn’t start as well as we usually do, first the Irish and then the Chinese went away from us.”
“We lost a lot of training earlier in the year when Fabien TILLIET [France’s stroke] was injured. Next year we will have to train hard to regain our title.”
Richard ARCHIBALD (IRL) – bronze medallist, lightweight men’s four
On the race:
“It was always going to be an extremely tight race and we had everything to play for, it was a great race.”
On settling for third place:
“We’re very happy with bronze, it’s a big step on. We had a good start, there was such a fast wind it was all a matter of keeping it tapping along.”
On his 2006 World Championships experience:
“It’s a great set-up, the officials and volunteers have all been a huge help.”