Press Release: Day one review

China’s two male crews of today, the men’s single sculls and the men’s double sculls, were excluded from competition when Liang Zhang did not line up reach the start in time to compete in the men’s single sculls heat. Zhang had qualified for the Olympic Games in the single sculls at the Asian Continental Qualification Regatta and also in the men’s double sculls at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poznan, Poland. The Olympic qualification rules state that rowers qualifying at these events “must participate in that event if they participate at the Olympic Games.” By not competing in the heat of the men’s single sculls, Liang Zhang became ineligible to compete in the men’s double sculls and they were excluded. The Chinese Rowing Federation appealed against the decision but FISA’s Executive Committee rejected it. China’s men’s double sculls crew was confirmed to be ineligible for its race.

New Zealand’s crews performed well today with five heat wins including a win by Sydney gold medallist Rob Waddell who is going for his second Olympic gold medal in the men’s double and three-time World Champion Mahe Drysdale who won his heat in the men’s single sculls. Athens gold medallist twins – the Evers-Swindell sisters – returned to form today with a win in the women’s double sculls after a disappointing spring regatta season.

The seven boat classes included in Group A that lined up for today’s first round of heats are the Women’s Single Sculls (W1x), Men’s Single Sculls (M1x), Women’s Pair (W2-), Men’s Pair (M2-), Women’s Double Sculls (W2x), Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) and Men’s Four (M4-). The seven Group B boat classes will race their heats tomorrow Sunday 10 August.

Go to www.worldrowing.com for daily race reports, regatta news, live results, and the photo gallery.

For more information:
FISA media officer
Débora Feutren
Mobile: +41 79 793 5600
E-mail: debora.feutren@fisa.org