Happy medallists after Day 3 of the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals

They got the best of the wind and the waves, to earn well-deserved medals. Hear what the medallists have to say after a challenging day of racing here in Saundersfoot.

Coastal Men’s Solo (CM1x)

Christopher Bak (USA) – gold 

“Honestly hasn’t sunk in yet. As soon as I saw my coach Mark I just started shedding tears. It’s amazing, an amazing team, amazing parents who support me back home.

“Last year there was a bit of bad luck. Props to Gio (Giovanni Ficarra, ITA), since last year he was probably one of the most gracious competitors. We kept in touch all year, kept each other motivated. This year it was the same. You never know what’s going to happen out there, just because of the conditions.

“I ended up quitting my job back in February just to focus on rowing. Challenged some other adversity throughout the year but it was amazing, all worth it, 100 per cent. Let’s do it again next year.”

Mohamed Taeib (TUN) – silver

“I feel great, but I feel a little bit tired because the last 100 metres were very tough, the conditions are tough. It’s hard to say what I feel now. Be sure that I’m coming back next year more stronger. I didn’t have time to prepare myself for the coastal rowing but just showed the world, other people, other rowers that a normal rower can be also champion.

“We (Tunisia) are just 11 million people, but we’re already good in everything beach – beach rowing, beach volleyball. We have also a good system, so we try to have a balance between normal rowing and beach. We focus on the beach part, because Tunisia have big parts (which are) beach, and our federation works hard in this part too.

“I remember myself in 2007 when I started rowing as a child, I started practising with a coastal rowing boat. So since 10 years now, or 12 years, our federation tried to bring this culture of coastal rowing. It’s been an honour to be strong in this field of rowing.”

Joel Naukkarinen (FIN) – bronze

“That was really exciting. Of course I knew and everyone there that anything can happen. I noticed my course started to go too much to my left side and I was afraid about it, because I was thinking that if I do even slight corrections it causes bigger losses, and even capsizing in those conditions. So I kept calm and tried to control my rowing with the waves. That worked.”

Coastal Women’s Solo (CW1x)

 Emma Twigg (NZL) – gold

“Disappointing, I would have loved to go out and experience some rough conditions. Everyone wants to complete all of the rounds, but I guess safety is paramount, so what can you do? It’s coastal.

“We went out there (in the repechage) to win as fast as we could because you never know what happens in coastal, and it’s all about setting up your lane draws as well.

“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks and it’s certainly made me realise that this is something that I’d like to keep doing. A little more practice and some fine-tuning of skills, and hopefully we’ll get to the real finals another year.”

Helen Glover (GBR) – silver

“I loved the race, and to be honest I was so pleased I didn’t make any mistakes, and my boat didn’t turn. I was raring to go, but I totally understand (why racing was cancelled). It’s part of the sport.

“There’s a very different vibe here and everyone’s like ‘hey, it’s just what happens’.

“I’ve loved it, every minute. After today I’m definitely left wanting more.”

Michala Pospisilova (CZE) – bronze

“I’m very happy. I was scared to go in the water, so I’m happy.

“I really enjoyed the competition. This is my first coastal rowing, I sit in this boat twice. I enjoyed it.”

Under 19 Coastal Men’s Double Sculls (CJM2x)

Ricardo Gonzalez Bermudez (ESP) – gold

“I feel very good. It’s very enjoyable and a very good race.

“I really like beach sprints, it’s enjoyable and it’s beautiful.”

Gary Rought (USA) – silver

“Waves constantly knocking me off my seat – it’s just hectic out there. The wind felt like it picked up a little bit out there. You’ve just got to stay on your toes. The water got the best of us really.

“We’re both from Ohio and you don’t really get to practise stuff like this, so for the past month we’ve been in Spain and Ireland and it’s helped prepare us for stuff like this. When you’re rowing against waves like this you’ve just got to remember the fundamentals.”

Malachi Anderson (USA) – silver

“The ocean’s against you and you can only go so long before something throws you sideways. That’s just part of the sport.”

James Purves Liddelle (GBR) – bronze

“Knackered. It was very scary about halfway because we got spun round, but as we learned anything can happen out there – some things go for you, some go against you.

“It’s obviously disappointing when you lose your semifinal but winning any medal makes up for it. We’re absolutely thrilled.”

Robert Collen (GBR) – bronze

“I saw the French come into the beach and thought I’ve got to give it my all – I gave it my all, I nearly tripped over and was just I’ve got to commit now, it’s now or never, and just collapsed on the line. It was so close.”

Under 19 Coastal Women’s Double Sculls (CJW2x)

 Miranda Torres Pujante (ESP) – gold

“We feel comfortable, so comfortable because we train so much for that race. We are so happy for it.”

Monika Bundschu (GER) – silver

“The wind was really strong, and it was hard to keep the boat in one line. It was the first time for us in these hard and big waves. In Germany we don’t have these high waves.

“It’s just fun, and it’s really cool to talk to all the different nations.”

Annelise Hahl (USA) – bronze

“We’re feeling amazing. I’m feeling great. These conditions out here were very very rough and it was a learning curve for me, but I had so much fun.

“This is all so fun, the team here is phenomenal. The energy here, the sport, it’s all just incredible.”

Annalie Duncomb (USA) – bronze

“I’m super happy with how far we came. This is our first competition together, so I’m really proud of the both of us. We’re both 16, so we’ve got a few more years as juniors too.”

Under 19 Coastal Mixed Double Sculls (CMix2x) 

Alessandra Quaranta (ITA) – gold

“I don’t believe it. In this race we use the head because the sea is very strong.”

Manuel Vera Montesinos (ESP) – silver

“I feel very very good and really proud of my team. Today is an amazing day. The sea is very difficult but this is my dream.”

Hela Belhaje Mohamed (TUN) – bronze

“It was amazing. It was so wavy. I’m so happy for this race. I just thought of the medal, I have to go back home with a medal. You just have to believe.”