Records Fall in a Day of Upsets – World Rowing Championships

Cracknell and Pinsent win gold
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The clouds cleared for the

first day of finals at the 2002 World Rowing Championships. The rowers felt a tail wind. Seville came out in force and crowds were gathered on the various bridges that cross the course and along either bank of the 2000 metre stretch.

Lightweights Women’s Single

Today’s final was no reflection of the 2002 racing season. The scullers that pulled into Seville’s starting blocks had barely been seen all season.

Victoria Dimitrova of Bulgaria will be thanking her coach. Svilen Neykov kept her out of racing and focused on training since the first World Cup. It paid off today. Dimitrova opened the challenge with a flying start and held on to first ahead of Lisa Schlenker of the United States. Schlenker raced the double in the second World Cup, but chose to contest US trials in the single in August. 38-year old Schlenker has been improving with each race through this regatta and held onto silver throughout today’s race. This is a step up after finishing fourth in 2001.

Fifteen years younger than Schlenker, Dimitrova rowed a very solid race having just enough energy to hold off Schlenker and take gold.

But it was Maree Mas de Xaxars Rivero of Spain who brought the crowd to their feet. Not known for her fast starts, 20 year old Mas de Xaxars Rivero came through the first 500 in last place. In a demonstration of inspiring consistency, she pushed first through the Netherlands, then Croatia and finally Mirna Rajle of Croatia. Mas de Xaxars Rivero’s closing sprint was the fastest of the field.

B-final

After a week of racing and making weight, these scullers were lining up for the fourth time and fatigue was obvious as the rowers moved into the closing metres of the course. Looking the freshest was Germany’s Marie-Louise Drager who crossed the line in the lead in a very respectable 7.42. Drager was followed by Romania’s Monica Stan. Stan who also raced the double, must have found the intensity of racing two events demanding and could not break into the A-final. Canada finished third.

Lightweight Men’s Single

World Champion Sam Lynch of Ireland has looked comfortable ever since he arrived at the second World Cup in Lucerne. Lynch qualified for today’s final with the fastest time and continued his domination. Coached by Thor Nilssen, Lynch inched into a slight lead over Australia’s Anthony Edwards and then contended with a challenge from Steve Tucker of the United States.

Tucker had worked his way into second and held it through the middle section of the race. But it was Stefano Basalini of Italy who was the man to watch. Basalini spent most of this season recovering from a broken hand and was looking to defend his 2001 silver medal. Closing in first on Japan then Germany, then Australia, Basalini went after Tucker. In the final sprint of the race he made up a deficit of over five seconds on Lynch and his sprint put him into silver spot.

In a repeat of 2001, Ireland and Italy took gold and silver respectively. But new to the podium was 33-year-old Tucker. On the United States national team since 1997, Tucker has finished in heartbreaking fourth place twice and comes into the 2002 World Championships with two World Cup fourth place finishes. Today he planned it right.

Conspicous in his absense was Tamas Varga of Hungary. Varga had a very solid 2002 season cut short when he was struck down with food poisoning and could not compete.

B-final

In a show of diversity, Africa, South America, East and West Europe lined up. At the finish, last year’s bronze medallist, Michal Vabrousek of the Czech Republic, finished on top, followed by Slovakia and the fast finishing Mexico took bronze.

Lightweight Men’s Eight

The six lightweight eight crews met for the first time today. Denmark came into the event as favourites having won two of the 2002 World Cups. But Spain, Italy and last year’s bronze medallists, the United States, were racing them for the first time this season.

In a closely fought race Denmark never made a dent into the medals and today was Italy’s day. Crossing the line in 5.35, they led Germany by over a second and in silver position while the United States retained their bronze medal status.

 

Women’s Single

With Neykova, Rutschow-Stomporowski and Karsten lining up at the start the only question was what order would they finish? Roumiana Neykova of Bulgaria looked to be the favourite. Neykova made her post-baby comeback at the second World Cup and won convincingly. But with the World Champion from Germany, Kathrin Rutschow-Stomporowski on one side and two-time Olympic Champion, Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus on her other, the heat was on.

Karsten went out to an early lead but was soon reeled back in by Neykova in the second 500. Then Rutschow-Stomporowski made a move from her third placed position and pushed past Karsten through the 1250 metre mark. Neykova, still comfortably in the lead, watched Karsten respond. And respond she did. Increasing her rating in the last 300 metres, Karsten passed Rutschow-Stomporowski to take silver.

Neykova, who felt she had nothing to lose going into the race, crossed the line not only in first place, but also in record-breaking time. Set in 1999 by a post-baby Karsten, Neykova established a new standard at 7.07.71.For coach and husband, Svilen Neykov, it was his second win of the day.

Special mention must go to Miroslava Knapkova for the Czech Republic. This year’s Under 23 Champion and World Cup yellow jersey holder burst onto the 2002 scene in style, but illness kept her away from the World Championships.

B-final

The Spanish crowd loved it. Nuria Dominguez of Spain held a slight lead in the closing part of the race. But in a very tight race, Great Britain’s Elise Laverick used her longer, stronger strokes to propel her to first in the last couple of strokes, winning in a photo finish. Spain finished second and the Netherlands in third. New Zealand’s Angela Fife saved everything for the final sprint, but too late to make up the deficit and finished in fifth.

Men’s Single

The second record fell today when Marcel Hacker of Germany completed his most successful season to date. Finishing in 6.36.33 he broke the 1999 record set by Rob Waddell by just over three hundredths of a second.

Hacker failed to make the A-final in 2001 and was making no mistakes this year. Silver medallist from Slovenia, Iztok Cop, took an early lead and held it by a mere four hundredths of a second going through the 1000. But Hacker responded and not only moved into the top spot, but continued to open up the lead. Meanwhile, Cop had to contend with a late race sprint from 2001 World Champion, Norway’s Olaf Tufte. He had just pushed past Vaclav Chalupa of the Czech Republic and was going after silver.

At the bubble line Cop retained second with Tufte third.

B-final

Santiago Fernandez of Argentina improved by one notch from 2001 by winning the B-final. Italy followed in second and Slovakia’s Jan Ziska finished in third. Ziska improved two places from last year, demonstrating the years of experience necessary to break into the A-final.

Women’s Pair

Nina Proskura and Natalya Ryzhkova of Ukraine threw down the gauntlet in the first 500 metres of the race. They grabbed an early lead of over one and a half seconds on World Champions, Romanian’s, Georgeta Andrunache and Viorica Susanu, who were sitting in third behind Yuliya Bichyk and Natallia Helakh of Belarus.

But then Olympic gold medallists from the eight, Andrunache and Susanu had found their pace and not only took the lead but started to pull ahead. They weren’t just going after first place, they were after the world record.

Meanwhile Belarus had a battle on their hands. Last year’s bronze medallists, Canada’s Jacqui Cook and Karen Clark were making moves. The pair also make up the powerhouse in the Canadian women’s eight and had watched four of their fellow team-mates take silver earlier in the day. Going into the final sprint, Cook and Clark pulled out the goods and moved into silver medal position with Belarus taking bronze.

Andrunache and Susanu crossed the line in a time of 6.53.80. This was the third record to fall today on the Guadaquivir River in Seville.

B-final

Germany saved their best race for the B-final. Rating 40 strokes per minute going through the 1500 they nearly held off Russia who pushed through from second to take first on the line. France improved on their 2001 twelfth place to finish in third and ninth overall.

Men’s Pair

Hopefully James Cracknell and Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain had been ignoring their country’s media. After having their 25 race winning streak broken by Australia’s Drew Ginn and James Tomkins at the second 2002 World Cup, a shaken Cracknell and Pinsent went back to the drawing board with coach, Jurgen Grobler . The Brits chose to focus on training rather than contest the third World Cup and spent the last six weeks getting stronger and working on boat speed.

Today was their race and they set a world record time. Today Pinsent became the winner of the most number of World Championships gold medals.

Cracknell and Pinsent left nothing to chance. They opened the challenge with a flying start and by the first 500 already had a huge 2.24 second lead over the second placed crew from Croatia. Through the half way the British duo had extended that lead to open water and nearly four seconds over Sinisa and Niksa Skelin of Croatia. Then last year’s silver medallists made a gutsy move. Djordje Visacki and Nikola Stojic of Yugoslavia stormed past Croatia and South Africa to take second in the third 500 of the race. But Visacki and Stojic had nothing left for the sprint.

In one of the most exciting races of the day, challenges were coming from all sides as crews battled for silver. Australia, who had barely made a showing all race, attempted to put themselves into medal contention. But they had left their run too late. And no one had taken last year’s bronze medallists, South Africa, into consideration. Making up for a slow third 500, Ramon di Clemente and Donovan Cech found another gear and pulled out the biggest sprint of the day. Sheer determination in the last 500 propelled them past Australia, past Croatia and into silver medal history.

Coached by Christian Felkel, Di Clemente and Cech’s final sprint of 1.28, was not only the fastest of all the crews, it was also faster than any split recorded in today’s men’s double race – a much faster event.

The most elated crew at the finish goes to South Africa. The most relieved crew on the podium was Great Britain.

B-final

Making the B-final in this very competitive race was still an accomplishment and all crews raced it to the line. Covering three continents, Canada finished in top spot by less than half a second over Lithuania. A much-improved Brazil finished eighteenth in 2001 and today took ninth overall by finishing in third position.

Women’s Double

Identical twins, Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell of New Zealand made their intentions for 2002 known at the third World Cup in Munich when they took gold in their first international race of the season. After a year of training in their home country, the twins were happy to know they were on track from where they left off with silver in 2001. Today, in the tail wind conditions, they completed their intent. Coached by New Zealand’s head coach, Richard Tonks, the Evers-Swindell sisters grabbed the lead at the start and never looked back. From centre lane they were able to view the battle for silver.

First France moved into the spot. Then Russia, stroked by former single sculling champion, Irina Fedotova, back from maternity leave, pushed into second. Then Elisabetta Sancassani and Gabriella Bascelli of Italy decided it was their turn. Going into the closing 500 metres the Italians had over a second over Fedotova and partner, Larisa Merk.

But the race was not over. Changing gears, Russia moved past Italy to regain silver position with the Italian double finishing in bronze. New Zealand was comfortably in first and brought home the country’s first gold medal since 2000.

Another world record was broken today. The Evers-Swindell sisters knocked more than three seconds off the time set by Kathrin Boron and Jana Thieme of Germany in 1999. Georgina Evers-Swindell now holds two world records – the other on the indoor rowing machine.

B-final

Lithuania’s Birute Sakickiene and Kristina Kulifai led the race to first place. This is the same duo that finished fifth in 2001. They were followed by new line-ups from the United States and Canada who finished in second and third respectively.

Men’s Double

World Champions, Akos Haller and Tibor Petoe of Hungary were a tad nervous. They started in the final in an outside lane after being beaten by Australia in the semi-final. Then last month at the third World Cup the Hungarian duo was just piped by the Czech Republic. And to cap it off, Italian legend, Agostino Abbagnale had teamed up with Franco Berra to race the event.

So, how did the Hungarians react? By edging into a slim early lead over Australia. But then through the middle thousand Germany reacted. Andre Willms has international experience stretching back to 1985 when he won the junior single and partner, Andreas Hajek is no virgin rower. Hajek won the junior single in 1990.

Willms and Hajek moved into a small lead over Abbagnale and Berra who had also overtaken Hungary. But going through the half way point, the race was far from over. Haller and Petoe had had enough of bronze position and wanted more. The duo pushed past Italy and went after leaders, Germany. In an all mighty closing sprint, Haller and Petoe regained top spot and retained World Champion status for another year. Italy held on to silver and Germany added a bronze to their large medal collection.

B-final

2001 silver medallists, France, won the B-final in the culmination of an uneven season. They pulled off the win in the closing strokes of the race over Cuba who were also in the A-final last year. Biggest improvement from 2001 goes to third placed, Brazil who came fifth in the B-final last year.

Women’s Four

Australia and Canada stamped their name on the top two spots and let the battle rage behind them. First the United States grabbed spot number three. But Germany answered. They used a middle 1000 push to move into third. However, it was the unknown crew from China that decided they most wanted the bronze medal. Not seen all season, Guifeng Zhao, Cuiping Yang, Huanling Cong and Xueling Feng had secured third by the 1500 and continued to move. A closing sprint by New Zealand was not enough to get them onto the medal podium, but took them from last to fourth position.

Meanwhile, Australia was enjoying domination of the race and easily defended their world championship status. Canada held steadfastly onto silver for the full 2000 metres. This race adds fire to tomorrow’s eights race as all three crews will meet again as part of their country’s women’s eight.

Men’s Coxed pair

Germany came through as favourites from the heat and weighing in at over 100 kg each Lars Krisch and Andreas Werner were looking good. Directed by coxswain, Claus Mueller-Gattermann, the pair kept their nose in front. Last year’s bronze medallists, Romania held onto silver position through the first half of the race, but could not hold off the accelerating United States. Daniel Beery and Dana Schmunk were going for the medals. Schmunk and coxswain, Joe Manion finished fifth in this event last year and were stepping out.

Meanwhile Australia rowed a very consistent race to bronze. Tom Laurich and Robert Jahrling held onto third throughout the race to finish in that position on the medals podium. The pair also raced in the coxed four event with their coxswain, Michael Toon. Romania finished just out of the medals in fourth.

Men’s Four

The statistics from the semi-finals had Germany and Great Britain lining up in the final with almost identical times. The two crews have traded first and second spots all season and today was anybody’s guess.

Sebastian Thormann, Paul Dienstbach, Philipp Stueer and Bernd Heidicker of Germany won silver behind Great Britain in 2001 and today by the 1000 metre mark had a slight lead over France.

Meanwhile the British crew were down on the leaders by over two seconds in fourth place. Then they found their stride. Moving through the third 500 Great Britain tussled with the Italian crew of Niccolo and Carlo Mornati, Raffaello Leonardo and Lorenzo Carboncini. Great Britain came off second best in the tussel and going under the final bridge Germany was still leading with Italy in second and Great Britain in third.

But the race was not over. Britain’s stroke, Richard Dunn upped the tempo, overtook Italy and went after Germany. With every stroke the British closed in on Germany and at the line barely a bow ball separated the two crews. Germany had only just won and also set a new world record time. Great Britain took silver and Italy bronze. The effort of the race was evident as the crews received their medals – Niccolo Mornati barely able to stand.

B-final

The crowed gasped as third placed United States bow man caught a boat stopping crab with only 50 metres to go. But leading crew, New Zealand, did not notice. They used a very solid middle 1000 to move into first over Poland. This placed them one notch higher than 2001 by winning the B-final. Taking advantage of the US mishap, Denmark sprinted into third.