Hacker, Czech pair Withdraw Marcel Hacker withdrew from his B final this morning - before falling into the water after the semi, he had been throwing up in his boat from the 1000m mark on (graphic images ahead) - people who were following the race in the TV launches, and people watching on TV as well, thought he was spitting or sweating - turns out it was projectile vomit so powerful that it was clearing the stern of his boat.
A CZE 2+ also scratched this morning, but apparently in slightly different style - as row2k walked into the athletes compound this morning, a call was going out over the PA calling the CZE coxswain to weigh-on "one minute to go...." they never showed.
Jen Devine's petite final win and 7th place finish is the best US finish in the women's single since Monica Michini's 7th place in Aiguebelette in 1997. Before that, Ruth Davidon placed sixth in Atlanta.
Almost Could Have Been Holding Hands Finishing time for the C final for the women's single:
CHI | Soraya Jadue | 7:49.31 | |
Bulgaria | Milra Tavcheva | 7:49.51 | 0.20 |
Latvia | Kristiana Rode | 7:49.7 | 0.39 |
While it seemed at first perhaps to be a pothunt, the GBR's entry into the coxed pair has ultimately made their quest to win the straight pair much more interesting. The Italian coxed pair was hellbent on making the GBR pairs gold medal as difficult as possible, perhaps as much to try to beat them as to wear them down for the 2- final, in which another Italian pair might be the GBR's stiffest competition. The Italian pair came storming after the GBR in the final 250, nearly catching them before GBR pushed away by a deck at the finish line.
Add to this Cracknell's comment in the papers this morning that he would like to see Steve Redgrave "eat his words" (Redgrave said that winning two golds on two different days is tough enough, and that doing two in one day would be impossible. See today's press links for the full story.)
In the end, it certainly made the straight pair interesting enough - the Brits got to the 500 in third, the 1000 in 4th, the 1500 back in third, and didn't get through the Yugo pair until the last stroke to win by 0.02 seconds. It's likely been a while since Pinsent and Cracknell have had to wait for a photo finish to cough up the results.
Old Habits Die Hard This from Oli Rosenbladt: "In a few online commentaries I've read today, the Pinsent/Cracknell pair has been referred to as "Pinsent/Redgrave"...seems old habits die hard among journos..."
Paddy's Day Ireland stands indisputably atop lightweight single sculling on Planet Earth - they won both the men's and women's light singles this morning, both rowing away.
US Light 8 Climbs Medal Stand Going into the lightweight men's eight final, the US had placed fourth in four races - fourth place might be the most brutal way to miss the medals, just too close ever to let an athlete rest, most full of what-if and only-if's. The US lights broke the streak by taking the bronze, and were the only US crew to medal on the day.
The lightweight eight turned out to be a blistering race, with the Danes back in the medal take in the big boat as they were back in my day.
"Apology/Thanks" Lap After placing fifth, Xeno nonetheless took a lap past the stands to acknowledge his fans once again. As he rowed past, he threw up his hands as if in apology and waved graciously and thankfully; if this behavior is usually reserved for victory laps, Some might think it inappropriate, but I saw it as anything but. As someone who lives and trains in another country, yet still inspires admiration and devotion among his Swiss fans, It seemed appropriate for Xeno to stop by the stands on the other side of the course from the medals stand to say hello.
World Record Stands The 24 took a full 2k run down the course today in an attempt to break the world record for 2k of 5:20, held by the NED men's eight . The fastest the boat has gone is 6 minutes; today produced a 5:44 (with yours truly in the four seat), due in part to a foray into the buoys which caused a buoy line to become wrapped fully around an oar shaft. The buoy flew around in the air for a while, wrapping also around the oar just ahead of it, then ripped off the first oar to stay wrapped around the second oar. It then bounced off the water a few times, then dove deep. It stayed deep for at least five strokes, looking like a marlin running with a line. Needless to say, that kind of thing doesn't help your speed.
However, the momentum of the boat is so great that only the people who were sitting bow-ward of the buoy even knew anything had happened; the boat just keeps barreling along.
Bronze Medalist and Mum In all events where a competitor won medals in two events, the first medal ceremony was delayed until the second race was finished. As a result, Ekaterina Karsten had to sit and wait to collect her second set of medals. She did so with her daughter on her lap sharing a bottle of water. Moms gotta rehydrate too; see today's photos for a shot of the family.
QUOTES: Sinead Jennings, Irish LW1x: On winning the first ever WC women's gold medal for Ireland: "Absolutely fabulous! I've never been happier - this is amazing! It's nice to be the first to show the other girls the way. It's great… hopefully now we will have others following in the footsteps."
On beating Pia Vogel: "she was my hero for years, so to beat the double world champion… I do not know if it is right to do it or not! I almost feel guilty! I do feel that I am with them now, I am with the best!"
Light men's 8: French gold medal stroke Xavier Dorfman: "It's one part of a dream, but we still have a final tomorrow (4-). We are very motivated, we want to finish well tomorrow, but we have completed one half of the contract. It's not over yet."
On the close race with the Danes: "it's a surprise. We didn't expect them to be so strong! Seeing the video it seemed we had a bit of unfavorable wind in the second half of the course, and I'm wondering if we weren't a bit sheltered. But they started very fast, they had a magnificent race!"
about tomorrow: "We still had to race today, but it was a warmup for tomorrow. We're on top form, and there's one more race, and it will be the best I think."
Jean Batiste Dupy, bow: "It happens so fast, there's no time to think about it. You give everything you can, and then, all of a sudden, you're there.
We started quite well, but the Danes had a great end of race, and really well done to them too!"
M1x: Olaf Tufte Does this victory confirm that you will stay in the single? "No, not at all. We'll see what form Fredrik Bekken is in. now I will have a week vacation - with no rowing!
I had just started training one week before the world because I had been down for three weeks, so I am just really happy!"
Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski German W1x gold "It's a dream come true! This is my favorite boat class, and this victory means a lot to me."
Ekaterina Karsten, bronze in W1x and 2x "the racing in the single was very hard after my back injury just two weeks before the World Championships. I didn't do much training to give more time for my back to heal. It is better now but I still suffer. I was hoping to do better but as I said earlier it was very hard.
"In the double I was just hoping to be able to finish after the hard race in the single."
Ed Coode, GBR men's four Mentality going into the final: "We've had a good week, we've had a good season, a good training camp. I certainly had confidence in the three other people, I just had to try to live up to their expectations of me. They've been absolutely wonderful, and it's been great to row with this crew.
Meaning of the win: "We've invested a lot in the four. It has a lot of sentimental value. It means a hell of a lot, especially after last year. It means a lot to achieve this with these three other guys, and I hope it means as much to them as it does to me."
Anticipation of challenges from other teams: "It was always Germany and Slovenia… we had to race them all season, the States are four really big, strong guys, and they raced really hard in our heat with us, but we were always aware of the other two European crews, Germany and Slovenia. This is an ongoing project, so for the next few years we've got to keep on improving. We're certainly not there, it's just the first step in the right direction."
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