World Best Times tumble in adaptive rowing finals

Adaptive rowing moved up another level with World Best Times tumbling in the finals at the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland. All current World Best Times fell with single sculler Tom Aggar of Great Britain absolutely shattering his own best time.

Arms and Shoulders Women’s Single Sculls (ASW1x) – Final

This event has received a shot of new blood this year. The top two medallists, at the conclusion of this race, are both in their first year of adaptive rowing. Alla Lysenko of Ukraine began her international rowing career at the Munich Rowing World Cup in June. She debuted by winning gold. Lysenko, 40, got out to an early lead and was able to keep an eye on a close battle between Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus and Nathalie Benoit of France.

A stronger second half by Benoit gave her the silver medal. Benoit, 29, is also in her first year of adaptive rowing and finished second behind Lysenko at the Munich Rowing World Cup. Vauchok, who was the silver medallist from last year’s Paralympic Games, gets the bronze medal.

Lysenko sets a new World Best Time of 5:25.17

Results: UKR, FRA, BLR, POL, KOR, HUN

Alla Lysenko (UKR) – Gold
“My first victory, a lot of emotions, I still cannot believe that I came first. I´ve only been rowing for a year. I would like to thank my coaches for their support. They really encouraged me all along and helped me to concentrate on the important things before the race.’’

Nathalie Benoit (FRA) – Silver
“I was a high level athlete in basketball before I got into rowing and that helps. But this is not only my medal, it’s also my coach Isabelle Dantjou’s medal.”

Arms and Shoulders Men’s Single Sculls (ASM1x) – Final

This is the first year that shoulders have been added to body use in this event and last year’s Paralympic Champion Tom Aggar of Great Britain made full use of it. Today Aggar continued on his unbeaten winning streak by absolutely annihilating the field. Aggar had clear water by the half-way point, but was unrelenting, moving on to a 15-second win at the finish.

Aggar has the perfect build with strong arms and powerful shoulders and he knows how to use his muscles to their best advantage. Although underrating his competitors, on a 33 stroke rate, Aggar was too strong for the rest of the field. Andrii Kryvchun of Ukraine, who stroked at a 46 pace through the race, came through to second with Australia’s new single sculler Benjamin Houlison taking bronze.

Aggar breaks his own World Best Time by a huge 19 seconds with 4:51.48 the new standard.

Results: GBR, UKR, AUS, USA, NZL, ITA

Tom Aggar (GBR) – Gold
“The race went to plan. I was going to move away at the 500 and that worked. It was a really good race. The World Champs in New Zealand will be the next step. But long-term it’s definitely 2012 I’m aiming for.”

Benjamin Houlison (AUS) – Bronze
“I expected the whole team to go quickly with the tail wind. This was my first World Rowing Championships and the plan was just to make the final. I’m ecstatic about the medal. This is awesome.” 

Trunk and Arms Mixed Double Sculls (TAMix2x) – Final

Ukraine continues to grow and develop as a powerful adaptive rowing nation and their second gold medal today came in this event. Dmytro Ivanov and Iryna Kyrychenko of Ukraine raced in the toughest adaptive event at this regatta when five crews fought neck-and-neck for the gold medal. Kyrychenko raced in the B-final at last year’s Paralympic Games and with new partner, Ivanov the duo have stepped up a notch.

But Brazil’s Elton Santana and Josiane Lima did not give the Ukrainians an inch of breathing space. Paralympic bronze medallists Santana and Lima had winning on their mind and pressed for the full 1,000m. Poland was also very much in the mix. Jolanta Pawlak and Piotr Majka of Poland came out slowly but powered their way through to a medal position and nearly caught the Brazilians.

Ivanov and Kyrychenko set a new World Best Time of 4:03.96

Results: UKR, BRA, POL, ITA, GBR, ISR

Dmytro Ivanov, Iryna Kyrychenko (UKR) – Gold
“This was a hard race and the best result until now for our crew. Our plans for the future are to train hard, get to the next World Rowing Championships and hopefully to the Paralympics.” Dmytro Ivanov

Jolanta Pawlak, Piotr Majka (POL) – Bronze
“It was a very good race with good crews. We are very happy about our medal.”  Jolanta Pawlak

Legs, Trunk and Arms Intellectually Disabled Mixed Coxed Four (LTAIDMix4+) – Final

This is the first year that this event has been raced and a decision will be made later this year on whether it will become a Paralympic event. Intellectually disabled athletes last raced at the Paralympic Games in 2000. Today two countries raced – Hong Kong China and Italy. In a race for lanes, Hong Kong had dominated and they did the same today. The young crew, averaging 17 years of age, got out to an open-water lead and holding a 34 stroke rate, completely controlled the race.

Results: HKG, ITA

King Shan Lam, Pui Man Chu, Tung Chun Szeto, Kwok Man Tsui, Ying Chun Chu (HKG) – Gold
“We are happy and still a bit tense. It was quite cold and windy out there. It is very special to come first in this first time event.” Kwok Man Tsui

Giorgia Indelicato, Francesco Borsani, Carlo Dal Verme, Elisabetta Tieghi, Mahila di Battista (ITA) – Silver
“We only row together since February and are very happy to race here. I fell in love with this place and don’t want to leave.”  Giorgia Indelicato

Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+) – Final

Great Britain are regular medallists in this event and are the Paralympic Games bronze medallists. Today they stepped up a notch by winning. Stroked by Paralympian Naomi Riches the British took off in the lead. Settling into a 33 stroke rate pace, Great Britain did their best to stay ahead of Italy. The Italians, in second, were unrelenting. Also on a 33 stroke rate, Italy kept their boat overlapping and in contention of the gold medal spot.

Meanwhile Germany and Canada were having a tight battle for the bronze. All crews sprinted for the line. Margins became close. Italy’s silver medal was under threat. Germany charged. Great Britain held on. Great Britain cross the line breaking their own World Best Time by three seconds. The new time is 3:25.33.

Results: GBR, ITA, GER, CAN, UKR, AUS

 Victoria Hansford, James Roe, David Smith, Naomi Riches, Rhiannon Jones (GBR) – Gold
“An amazing race, we broke the record, I can’t believe my eyes! We are planning on training harder and keep putting the bar higher.” Victoria Hansford

Marcus Klemp, Martin Lossau, Susanne Lackner, Anke Molkenthin, Arne Maury (GER) – Bronze
“We wanted to get into the Final and winning a medal is even greater. An optimum result, to win a medal racing against the Olympic Champion and the fastest of the season.”  Martin Lossau
“Our race strategy worked out well and we are very happy about the result. What’ll come next we’ll have to wait and see. We only thought up to 1,000m for now.” Anke Molkenthin