Kara Farquharson, who represents the South Niagara Rowing Club in Welland, Ont., is the 2003 World Junior Rowing Championships bronze medallist in the women's single event.
Poland's Julia Michalska won the race, which was shortened to 1000 metres (from the Olympic distance of 2000 metres) due to water conditions, in 3:39.71. Italy was second in 3:41.71, followed by Canada in 3:43.14, with Latvia in a close fourth at 3:43.77.
"Today’s conditions were not as bad as earlier in the week, but the change to 1000 metres was difficult for everyone," said Farquharson, who also rowed for Mississauga’s Don Rowing Club before moving to Welland. "You have to change your whole race plan, it was so fast and the (stroke) rate was so high. I was going very hard and passed the Latvian right at the finish line."
The Schinias Rowing and Canoeing Center will be the site of the 2004 Olympic regatta, which brought added excitement for the young rowers.
“It was an exciting feeling to think that the Olympics are going to be here – the level of competition was very high and we all learned a lot,” said Farquharson.
Canada's others entries - junior men's quad, junior women's quad and junior men's pair - did not qualify for the medal rounds and rowed in the B finals this morning. Full results at www.worldrowing.com