08 Dec 2011
Lysenko again on top of adaptive single
Arms, Shoulders Men’s Single Scull (ASM1x) – Semifinals
Crews continued to be narrowed down from the original 17 countries as the semifinals got under way on the Lake Bled course. Tom Aggar of Great Britain dominated the first semifinal and this was absolutely no surprise. Aggar sets the standard in this sport. He is a full time athlete. He has not lost a race since 2007 and he holds the World Best Time, breaking his own record more than once. At the finish , using a 33 stroke rate, had won and qualified for the final. Behind him Australia’s Erik Horrie and Ronald Harvey of the United States had also qualified and all three boats earn Paralympic qualifying spots.
Finishing order: GBR, AUS, USA, NZL, CHN, BRA
Tom Aggar (GBR)
“The focus for me at this regatta was to qualify and it’s great that this is done now. At the start it felt quite heavy, but the end was easier. I’m very happy to be able to concentrate now on the A-final.”
Erik Horrie (AUS)
“It’s certainly great to make the final and qualify for the Paralympics at my first World Championships. The qualifying was the main aim of this regatta. I stuck to the plan I made with my coach Chad King and it all worked out. Now that that is done, I can focus on the final.”
Ronald Harvey (USA)
“It was very tight at the end, and I gave everything on the last strokes. I knew it would be tight with NZL and on the line we actually had to ask each other where we came. We only found out when the official result came out. I’m very happy to have qualified, that was the main motivation. That’s done now and I can concentrate on the final.”
The big surprise came in semifinal two with Russia’s Alexey Chuvashev recording the same finishing time as the great Aggar. Chuvashev finished fourth in 2010 and today he used a slow and precise 31 stroke rate pace to stay in the lead. In contrast Edorta De Anta Lecuona of Spain used a high 43 stroke rate to hold on to second with Jun-Ha Park of Korea closely tracking De Anta Lecuona. Chuvashev continued to dominate until the end while Park charged at the end and nearly caught the Spaniard. Russia, Spain and Korea earn spots in the final and thus qualify for the 2012 Paralympic Games. For Germany’s Johannes Schmidt it was absolute disappointment. Schmidt, in fourth, missed out on qualifying by just 4/100th of a second.
Finishing order: RUS, ESP, KOR, GER, BLR, FRA
Edorta De Anta Lecuona (ESP)
“I had an accident 3 years ago. This is the best day since I started rowing. I have qualified for the Paralympics. This is the most important.”
Jun-Ha Park (KOR)
“The race was really hard with these strong competitors, but also interesting. I am so happy! This is my first world championships, and now I have made it to the A finals and the Paralympics.”
Arms, Shoulders Women’s Single Scull (ASW1x) – Final
Coming into this final the favourite was reigning World Champion Nathalie Benoit of France, with Alla Lysenko of Ukraine (2009 World Champion) likely to be the biggest threat. Both scullers row with very different styles. Benoit uses a lower rating stroke rate of about 35 to propel her down the course. Lysenko uses a very quick, high stroke rate of about 50.
Today Benoit led at the start, before Lysenko managed to squeeze past. Benoit held on admirably, but Lysenko was able to hold just a slight advantage. Meanwhile, international newcomer, Moran Samuel of Israel was able to get the advantage ofer Jongrey Lee of Korea and secure a medal spot. At the line Lysenko had become a World Champion for the second time. Benoit earned silver and Samuel picked up bronze at her first ever adaptive World Championships.
Results: UKR, FRA, ISR, KOR, BRA, BLR
Alla Lysenko (UKR) – Gold
“I am so hot now, but I came in first, and I am very satisfied with my performance!”
Nathalie Benoit (FRA) – Silver
“I am happy. I am used to the second place. At Munich there were 12 seconds now it is less. This means I trained in a good way. Now I will train hard to get gold at the Paralympics.”
Moran Samuel (ISR) – Bronze
“I’m so thrilled. I knew I could do it but I had very strong competitors. When I knew I would get a medal I was tearing. I am so excited.”
B-final
This race was important. Very important. The top two boats would qualify for the 2012 Paralympic Games and all six crews must have been very much aware that it wasn’t just a race to finishing seventh in the world. Poland’s Martyna Snopek it the ground running. Snopek took a flying start and never looked back. By the 500m mark Snopek, who last rowed internationally in the b-final of the Paralympic Games, had a large open water lead. This turned the race into a procession with Filomena Franco of Portugal slotting into second, way ahead of Russia in third. Snopek and Franco, unchallenged, are the two Paralympic qualifying boats.
Results: POL, POR, RUS, USA, HUN, CHN
Martyna Snopek (POL)
“I took off really strongly, and when I realized I was in qualifying position, I just kept on taking strong strokes telling myself that I would row at our Olympic Games .I live in London, and the city feels like home to me. These are tears of joy.”
Filomena Franco (POR)
“My goal was the Paralympics. The race was hard and difficult but I’ve reached my goal. Now I want to work hard for London.”
ID Mixed Coxed Four (IDMix4+) – Final
Four boats lined up in this event that is in its second year of competition. The ID mixed coxed four was first raced at the 2010 World Rowing Championships and Hong Kong won the race. Today Hong Kong’s Liu, Lam, Szeto, Tsui and coxswain Chan did it again. Over the 1000m course, Hong Kong was able to build up a huge 10 second margin ahead of nearest rival, Germany. Germany, meanwhile, had to contend with a full on battle against Italy. Germany just held off the Italians and held on to silver.
Results: HKG, GER, ITA, RUS
Chan Tsz Wai (HKG) – Gold
“This is a great victory for the team. They trained a lot to be fit at the World Championships. It’s an honour for us to be world champions”
Florian Schaefer (GER) – Silver
“The race was good. We are very happy about the silver medal”
Frederico Zoppi (ITA) – Bronze
“Getting a medal was important to us, so we are happy.”
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