Carry on or Crash - Olympic Repechages

They can spell the end to Olympic medal dreams or keep them alive. Following the one day delay in racing, competitors in the repechage lined up again at the Schinias Rowing/Canoeing Centre in Athens, Greece for day three of the Olympic Regatta. Knowledge of the position they had to finish in was embedded firmly in their mind.

Fast times were expected as a stiff northerly tail wind pushed its way directly down the 2000 metre course kicking up small waves mainly in the second half of the race.

Women's Single Scull – two to advance

 

Martha Garcia of Mexico races in the repechage
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

Repechage 1

Soraya Jadue Ariaza of Chile finished second in the Latin American Olympic Qualification regatta and today she showed every intention of advancing by taking an early lead. Jadue, in her second Olympics, held this lead for three-quarters of the race. But a race is never won in 1500 metres and bearing down on Jadue from the outside lane was Mexico's Martha Garcia. At 39 years old Garcia comes back to rowing after a lengthy rowing retirement following the 1992 Olympics. Today, Garcia demonstrated her sprinting qualities.

From third position at the start of the race, Garcia was diligently working her way through Carolina Luethi of Switzerland and rowing a very consistent race, she had conserved just enough energy for the sprint. Having beaten Jadue at the qualification regatta, Garcia must have been feeling confident and coming into the final sprint she poured on the power to take first. Jadue held on to qualify from second leaving Luethi to suffer the huge disappointment of not advancing.

Repechage 2

In her second Olympic Games New Zealand's Sonia Waddell made easy work when she led the field from start to finish. Fitted with a wave deflecting "pod" at the bow end of her boat, Waddell barely raced above 27 strokes per minute after the half way point yet still extended out to a clear water lead over nearest rival Nuria Dominguez Asensio of Spain. Despite the limited challenge Waddell recorded the fastest qualifying time. This puts her in good stead as she moves on to the semi-final. Dominguez also advances after staying firmly in second for the entire race.

Devine rows to the semi for USA
© Dominik Keller

 

Repechage 3

She rowed at the 1996 Olympic Games and after taking time off from rowing to care for her father as well as becoming a doctor, Jen Devine from the United States is back at the top of her sport. Qualifying for Athens at the last chance in Lucerne, Switzerland in June, Devine raced against Frida Svensson of Sweden. Today Devine and Svensson met again.

Devine got out to a beginning margin over Svensson at the start and held off the Swede through the middle part of the race. This remained the status quo until the closing 400 metres. Svensson, despite being under no real threat from India in third, then decided to move on Devine. Taking her rating to 34 strokes per minute Svensson went after the lead. In an impressive final sprint Svensson, who celebrates her 23rd birthday tomorrow, pulled into first and goes to the semi-final along with Devine.

Repechage 4

Doing all the hard work early on in the race paid off for Irina Fedotova of Russia. Olympic bronze medalist in the quad from Sydney, Fedotova is at her third Olympic Games. Behind Fedotova, last minute qualifier, Femke Dekker of the Netherlands was moving away from the rest of the field in second. The order did not change and Fedotova was able to sit on a comfortable 28 strokes per minute in the final 500 metres of the race. Fedotova and Dekker move on to the semi-final.

Men's Single Sculls – two to advance

Repechage 1

Ivo Yanakiev of Bulgaria has sat in the shadow of his country's top woman, Rumyana Neykova and, after finishing fifth in Sydney, Yanakiev has struggled to find form in recent years. But today he moved on to the semi-final of the Athens Olympics by overtaking Dirk Lippits of the Netherlands to take first. Lippits seemed to be happy with second having clear water over third placed Peru.

The race turned into a procession as Yanakiev dropped his rating down in the closing metres and Lippits sat on a comfortable 28 strokes per minute as both boats crossed the line to qualify for the semi-final with Yanakiev recording the fastest qualifying time.

 

Lippits has been the subject of discussion as he wears a heat reflecting helmet. After the race Lippits described the helmet: "It's designed to protect from the sun and keep the head cooler. Normally in the heat I feel weak and dizzy, but with this helmet I don't have that problem."

Lippits was also candid about his competition stating, "I would bet money on Marcel Hacker because he's very good in rough water. I don't think Olaf Tufte is so good in bad conditions."

Repechage 2

Brazil's Anderson Nocetti took the head of the field with a do-or-die attitude over Yuleidys Cascaret Iznaga of Cuba. This is Nocetti's second Olympics (1996 Atlanta) and his first race internationally for 2004. The more experienced Cascaret kept careful tabs on Nocetti but seemed unconcerned with the Brazilian's early lead. This is Cascaret's second Olympic Games. Holding out to the final sprint, Cascaret pushed confidently past Nocetti in the last 500 metres of the race to take first.

Nocetti chose not to challenge back and both boats move on to the semi-final.

 

Ian Lawson races for Great Britain
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

Repechage 3

 

Ian Lawson of Great Britain has never been to the Olympics nor has he ever won an international medal but today he put three-time Olympian Aly Aly Ibrahim of Egypt, in his place. Aly Ibrahim, who has been training recently in the United States, is a regular in the single and took the lead over the slow starting Lawson and Uzbekistan.

As Lawson worked his way back from an open water deficit over Aly Ibrahim, Vladimir Tchernenko of Uzbekistan continued to slip further back. This brought the final sprint down to Lawson and Aly Ibrahim. Lawson got the lead and both boats move on to the semi-final.

After the finish Lawson admitted, "I had a disastrous start but I was confident in the way I was sculling that I would be able to catch up." Lawson added, "If I want to get into the final I will have to beat the top six rowers in the world. That's hard."

Repechage 4

Slovenia qualified the single for the Olympics last year when Olympic Champion Iztok Cop came third in this event. Cop then moved into the double leaving Davor Mizerit to take over the single. Today Mizerit rowed a very convincing race staying in the lead from start to finish. Behind Mizerit Austria's Raphael Hartl was working his way into a solid second over Chinese Taipei but Raphael remained outside striking distance of Mizerit. Both Mizerit and Hartl move on to the semi-final.

Repechage 5

Australian Jones in the men's single repechage
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

 

Craig Jones of Australia has moved from the quad into the single and it appears to be suiting him. At his second Olympic Games, Jones showed his experience by comfortably holding off the rest of a relatively inexperienced field. Meanwhile behind Jones, Hong Kong's Hiu Fung Law was having a first half battle with Korea's Jung Wook Ham. But by the 1500 metre mark 20 year old Law had managed to shake off Ham. 

Despite this tussle behind him Jones remained comfortably in front and coming into the final 500 metres Jones showed his ease by finishing off the race at a leisurely 26 strokes per minute. Law held on to second and also qualifies for the semi-final at his first ever Olympic Games.

Repechage 6

At 20 years old Matteo Stefanini of Italy can remember clearly winning gold in the quad at the Junior World Championships. Still in the quad through most of this season Stefanini represents his country in the single at these Olympics. Today Stefanini took off at a cracking pace at the start and held it to go neck-and-neck through the 1000 metres with Switzerland's Andre Vonarburg.

The first 1000 metres, however, was all too much for Stefanini. As Vonarburg took the lead, Stefanini began to fade and fade badly. Hui Su of China took advantage of the situation and moved past Stefanini and after Vonarburg. At the line Vonarburg remained in first and qualifies for the semi-final along with Su.

Men's Pair

One boat would fail, three would advance and in the one repechage all four crews were in with a chance. Germany's Tobias Kuehne and Jan Herzog took a slight lead at the start but there was little in it between the Germans and Walter Naneder and Marcos Morales of Argentina with 500 metres rowed. This left Slovenia and the Czech Republic to fight it out for the final qualifying spot. The Czech Republic moved to a slight advantage over Slovenia through the middle of the race with both boats remaining agonisingly close to each other.

Coming into the final sprint Kuehne and Herzog retained a slight lead over Naneder and Morales at the front of the field with the Czech Republic and Slovenia following. Stroke rates then started to rise, Herzog taking it up to a 39 with Morales following suit. Slovenia was doing their best to get in front of the Czech Republic and the Czechs were holding on.

At the line Germany retained the lead with Argentina in second with the Slovenians just coming through ahead of the Czechs to grab the final qualifying spot.

Men's Double

The goal was to be in the top three of this one repechage and it was Germany's Rene Bertram and Christian Schreiber who decided to do it from the front. Bertram and Schreiber are both racing at their first Olympic Games and they had a small edge at the head of the field over Yosbel Martinez and Yoennis Hernandez of Cuba who are racing at their second Olympics together. This remained the leading status quo before Hungary's Akos Haller and Gabor Bencsik decided to challenge for first.

Overtaking Cuba, Haller and Bencsik were not content just to qualify and were going after the Germans. As the finishing line came into sight the top three decision had not yet been made with Poland still very much in on the action.

At the line Hungary sprinted through to first, Cuba held on for second and Germany just qualified for the semi-final over a fast finishing unlucky Poland.

After the finish Bertram commented, "If we row the way we rowed today, we can make it to the final." But Bertram admitted it would not be easy, "To make it to the final we will have to watch out for everybody."

Men's Four

No crew wanted to be fourth as a top three finish was necessary for advancement but after the first 500 metres it looked like Romania's top four sweep rowers did not have the required speed. As Russia took the lead ahead of the United States a clear picture was beginning to form. Russia's high stroke rate was keeping them in the lead with the United States holding on tightly by their side.

As the crews charged through the half way point Russia was still holding off the Americans while Croatia in third was keeping comfortably ahead of Romania. Coming into the final sprint United States stroke Wolfgang Moser took the rating up to 40 strokes per minute with Croatia at 39 and Russia holding slimly on to the lead rating 37. For their effort all three boats go through to the semi-final.

Lightweight Women's Double Sculls – three to advance

Repechage 1

Casey & Langlands of Great Britain
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

 

Qian Li of China always seems to pull it off when it counts and she did the same today when she stroked her boat, with Dongxiang Xu in bow, through to the next round of racing. Taking a fast start Li and Xu had a handy lead over Helen Casey and Tracy Langlands of Great Britain. Behind them Maria Mas de Xaxars Rivero and Eva Mirones Sola of Spain lodged themselves firmly in third ahead of the experienced Hungarians.

Casey and Langlands then tried to close the gap on Li and Xu going through the middle of the race. But the Chinese were enjoying their leading status and not only held the Brits at bay but also managed to slightly widen the gap. The order did not change and with the Chinese rating 34 and the Brits at 33 the finishing order was China, Great Britain. China, Great Britain and Spain advance to the semi-final.

After the race Langlands said, "We don't know what went wrong in the heat on Sunday. This is our more normal performance." Casey added, "We have to get better at the start. That is where we lost the race to the Chinese."

Repechage 2

Poland's Magdalena Kemnitz and Ilona Mokronowska were unlucky not to advance from the heats and returning for today's repechages the duo were making no mistakes. Getting out to a small lead over Stacey Borgman and Lisa Schlenker of the United States they aimed to hold the Americans off. But Borgman and Schlenker also wanted the coveted lead position and were sticking closely by the Poles. Meanwhile behind them Denmark's Juliane Rasmussen and Johanne Thomsen had lodged themselves firmly in the third and final qualifying position ahead of Japan.

The race for the lead continued to remain intense and coming into the final sprint Schlenker and Borgman had moved closer to Kemnitz and Mokronowska by rating 36 strokes per minute. Kemnitz and Mokronowska held on to keep the lead and, along with the United States and Denmark, these boats advance to the semi-final.

After the race Schlenker, who has been rowing with Borgman for little more than a month, said, "Our rowing is getting better and better. It's been good to go through the repechage to get more experience."

Repechage 3

Van Eupen and van Der Kolk from the Netherlands won their reps in Athens
© Dominik Keller

 

They qualified for the Olympic regatta through host country rights and today they proved the Greek Olympic Committee correct when they advanced to the semi-final from finishing third in the final repechage. Maria Sakellaridou and Chrysi Biskitzi of Greece raced at last year's World Championships together and this is the third Olympics for Biskitzi.

While Sakellaridou and Biskitzi held on to third and the crowd roared their approval, the real race was going on at the head of the field. Canada's Fiona Milne and Mara Jones were waging a full on battle with Kirsten van Der Kolk and Marit van Eupen. Canada had easily beaten the Netherlands at the final World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland and the Dutch wanted revenge. Milne and Jones had done their trademark fast start and built a handy lead over van Eupen and van Der Kolk but as the race progressed the Dutch were inching closer and closer to the Canadians.

The Dutch did it in the final sprint finishing in the lead and earning the fastest qualifying time for their effort. Canada also move on to the semi-final by finishing second and Greece, although well back, qualify from third.

Lightweight Men's Double Sculls – top two to advance

Japan's and USA's lightweight double crews
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

 

Repechage 1

 

Senior member and stroke for Japan, Daisaku Takeda came sixth in Sydney and with his new partner Kazushige Ura they led the first repechage from start to finish. Behind them Germany's Manuel Brehmer and Ingo Euler held on to second. However, this was all going to change just after the 1000 metre mark.

Greg Ruckman and Steve Tucker of the United States knew that they'd left their ending charge too late in the heat on Sunday and today they didn't want to make the same mistake. Taking the rating up to 38 strokes per minute Ruckman and Tucker got their nose ahead of Brehmer and Euler and went after Ura and Takeda.

Ura and Takeda played it cool, rating 38, from their leading position and managed to move away with Ruckman and Tucker, rating 40 at the finish, qualifying by taking second.

The big surprise though was Brehmer and Euler not qualifying. The duo have won two World Cup medals this season and had all intentions of not only being in the Olympic final but going after a medal. When your Olympic medal dream has just been shattered it's hard to row after the finish line. Brehmen and Euler just sat. And they sat. The next race was already burning through the 750 metre mark. They still sat. Then the Germans slowly paddled away.

After the finish Ruckman admitted the race was hard, "The Japanese were very tough. We wish we would have won."

Repechage 2

Sycz stroking for Poland
© Dominik Keller

 

The defending Olympic Champions, Thomasz Kucharski and Robert Sycz of Poland showed that they still had it. The duo took an early lead over Ruben Alvarez Hoyos and Juan Zunzunegui Guimerans of Spain and continued to extend that lead looking confident and using a mid-30s stroke rate. Spain lodged themselves firmly in second with the two leading boats under no qualifying threat throughout the race.

Poland and Spain move on to the semi-final.

Repechage 3

Hungary's Zsolt Hirling and Tamas Varga, in their Olympic debut, are through to the semi-final. They did this by leading from start to finish and making the most of tail wind conditions using a quick rebound out of the bow of the boat. Behind them Slovakia's Lubos Podstupka and Lukas Babac worked their way from third through Uzbekistan to take second and move away from any potential threat to their qualifying spot.

Slovakia and Hungary both advance to the semi-final.

"It hurts," Pettinari through to the semi for Italy
© FISA

Repechage 4

When it matters Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari of Italy have always won. After coming together as a team just before Sydney 200 Luini and Pettinari won Olympic silver and then spent the last three years as reigning World Champions. However, after the heats on Sunday, Luini and Pettinari were not looking so dominating.

Today they led the final repechage ahead of a battle going on between Australia and Vaclav Malecek and Michal Vabrousek of the Czech Republic. Not able to maintain their first 1000 boat speed the Australians began to slip back putting Makecek and Vabrousek in second and ready to challenge the Italians.

At the line the Czech's had sprinted to first with Italy qualifying from second. 

After the race Pettinari admitted that they were taking one race at a time, "I have pain in the ribs. It's been bothering me a lot and it hurts when I row. I hurt it while weight training."

Lightweight Men's Four

The top three go to the semi-final. One crew drops off. All four crews knew this as the field fought to get ahead at the start. Russia was the successful one. Once they got their bow in front there was no looking back as they moved to an open water lead. But Serbia and Montenegro used a powerful second 1000 to gain on the Russians and pull ahead of Spain. All three crews move on to the semi-final.

USA's men's quad
© Getty Images/Robert Laberge

 

Men's Quadruple Sculls

The day closed with an absolute humdinger. The aim was to be in the top three of four crews and all four crews left the start together at similar speeds. By the middle of the race Great Britain had dropped back off the pace while the United States was out rating all other boats to take the lead. Meanwhile Great Britain had found their second wind and had caught up on the field. It was all going to come down to the final sprint. With Swiss cow bells ringing in the grandstands, the United States, Switzerland, Great Britain and France all charged for the line. The French were the unlucky ones.

Stroke for the United States Kent Smack said after the race, "Our boat has been going through some ups and downs. In the heat it didn't go so well, but this race was much better. We have to be aggressive in the semi-final to get into the final. Smack added, "Our main opponents will be Germany, Australia and Russia."