What did they say?

JM4+ / ROM / Race 131
Cristian Minea (Gold)
WR: Did you ever feel sure to be in a medal position during the race?
Cristian Minea: Yes, after the heats, we already expected to win.
WR: Was it an easy race?
Cristian Minea: Yes, we pushed hard at the beginning of the race and were quickly in front.
WR: How long have you been rowing together?
Cristian Minea: We just trained one month together, but the training was very hard. We also have to race the JM8+ later today, all of us, including the coxswain.
WR: Are you going to take a holiday now or will you go back to training?
Cristian Minea: No, we will go back to Romania and continue training.

JM4+ / ITA / Race 131
Francesco Baldi (Silver)
WR: How was the race?
Cristian Minea: It was a battle from the beginning to the end, we were very close to the other boats during all the race.

JW4- / GER / Race 130
Marie Strohmayer (Gold)
WR: Is this your first World Rowing Championship?
Marie Strohmayer : Yes.
WR: What was your plan?
Marie Strohmayer: We thought we would go for bronze and expected the boat from Belarus to win, but decided to start as fast as possible. After the start we were in first position, and decided to defend our leading position, which we did until the end and arrived first.

JW4- / ITA / Race 130
Cristina Romiti (Silver)
WR: How was the race?
Cristina Romiti: We started slowly and were last at the start, but after a few hundred meters, we quickly were second. We have been fighting for the gold until the end of the race, but came finally second.
WR: Is this your first World Rowing Championship?
Cristina Romiti: No, It is my third World Rowing Championship. Last year I was in the pair and came third, and the year before, I also raced the pair and arrived second. For Camilla Espana, the stroke of our boat, this year is the fourth time she takes part in the World Rowing Junior Championships.

JM1x / GER / Race 133
Hans Gruhne (Gold)
WR: Did you ever feel sure to be in a medal position during the race?
Hans Gruhne: I knew I was the favorite to win this race, but I did not think about it. I started behind Slovenia, but during the race it became obvious to me that I would win.
WR: Were you nervous before the race?
Hans Gruhne: No, I slept well the night before the race.
WR: Are you going on vacation now?
Hans Gruhne: Yes, I will leave tomorrow for at least two weeks.

JM1x / SLO / Race 133
Andraz Krek (Bronze)
WR: What was your plan for this race?
Andraz Krek: I planned to be leading the race at the 1500 meter mark, but during the race I was only second at that point. Anyways, I am happy with the result.

JW1x / POL / Race 132
Natalia Madaj (Gold)
WR: Did you ever feel sure to be in a medal position during the race?
Natalia Madaj: I was hoping to, because I was ahead, but my legs were hurting and I was scared that the others would come back on me.
WR: What was your coach's advice before you got on the water?
Natalia Madaj: He told me not to be stressed, because I am always nervous before a race. I could not sleep at all last night. I am always this nervous, even before small races. Even during my warm-up I was nervous.
WR: Did you win other races during this season?
Natalia Madaj: I have not lost a single race this year, so I really didn’t want to lose here. I am so happy now because I won, I didn’t want to settle for 2nd or 3rd because that is still a lost race, when someone is faster than you.

JW1x / USA / Race 132
Lindsay Meyer (Bronze)
WR: Is it your first World Rowing Championships?
Lindsay Meyer: Yes. It went very well for a first time!
WR: Did you ever feel sure of your medail position?
Lindsay Meyer: Yes. But it was still exciting to race.

JW2- / GER / Race 134
Kerstin Hartmann (Gold)
WR: Is it your first World Rowing Junior Championship?
Kerstin Hartmann: No, I raced the women’s pair last year and won silver. Next year we will train to start at the World Rowing U-23 Championships in the pair.
WR: Did you follow a specific race plan?
Kerstin Hartmann: We were expecting Romania to push very hard, so we decided to start as fast as possible. Our victory is kind of a surprise.
WR: What do you think of the atmosphere here?
Kerstin Hartmann: Compared to Munich, Hazewinkel or Brandenburg, everything is a bit smaller here, but at least the weather is fine now. I also really like the rowing course, and the hotel was really a great place to stay at!

JM2x / DEN / Race 137
Nils Henrik Stene (Gold)
WR: Is it your first World Rowing Junior Championship?
Nils Henrik Stene: No, actually it is my second participation at the World Rowing Championships
WR: How was your race?
Nils Henrik Stene: Before the race, our coach told us to just move our boat and forget the rest. During the race we did a very fast sprint every 500 meters. Finally we won, but it was a big surprise.

JW4x / GER / Race 139
Mandy Reppner (Gold)
WR: Did you expect to win?
Mandy Reppner: Gold was expected, but we also knew that we had to race the final first and that a lot of things could happen during the race. Greece and New Zealand were fast. They were our strongest opponents because they rowed well in the other heats, but it was a surprise to see Austria so fast.
WR: Did you like to race in Amsterdam?
Mandy Reppner: The Bosbaan is a nice course, and I liked it. It is a pity we had so much rain the last few days.

JW4x / AUT / Race 139
Magdalena Lobnig (Bronze)
WR: What did your coach tell you before you got on the water?
Magdalena Lobnig: Do not think about anything, just go!
WR: How was the race?
Magdalena Lobnig: We did not expect to medal, so we are very happy right now. During the race we accelerated every 500 meters and gave the best we could. Now that the races are over, we are free for two weeks. We will stay home and party a lot. We love that.