FISA Team Cup crowns off Women's Development Camp

by Débora Feutren

More than twenty women from around the world, some of whom are hoping to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, gathered in Seville, Spain, to attend the FISA Women's Development Camp from 4 to 19 February.

This annual camp aimed at providing in-depth training to nineteen promising athletes and six coaches, in view of the Olympic qualification regattas starting this year. Ten days of on-the-water and off-the-water training, physiological and specific biometric testing, and personal technical coaching culminated with the FISA Team Cup last weekend, where five developing nations made it into the finals.

Ibtissem Trimech of Tunisia, already well-known on the World Rowing scene, won bronze in the women's lightweight single sculls over the 500-metre distance on Sunday, behind Marit van Eupen (NED) and Daniela Reimer (GER). Uzbekistani sisters Zarrina Ganieva and Sevara Ganieva, gold medallists at the 2006 Asian Games, also finished third over the 500-metre sprint in the lightweight double sculls.

African athletes attending the camp are looking ahead to the All Africa Games, organised this coming July in Algeria, where they will make a first attempt at qualifying for Beijing, while Latin American rowers are gearing up for July's Pan American Games and November's Latin American Olympic Qualification Regatta in Brazil.

The camp was directed by FISA Development Director Thor Nilsen and managed by 2006 winner of FISA's Distinguished Services to Rowing award Penny Chuter. Guest speakers included Terry O’Neill (GBR), coach Johan Flodin (SWE), and 2006 World Championship bronze medallist in the women's single Frida Svensson (SWE). Milan Bracanovic of WEBA conducted the specific biometric testing.

The World Rowing media team values feedback.