Lipa's Record Breaking Comeback

Elizabeta Lipa
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Romania‘s Elisabeta Lipa already has a pile of records. There’s the one for being the first rower to win six Olympic medals. Then there’s the one for being the oldest oarswoman to win an Olympic gold. Then there’s the title of Romania‘s Rower of the Century. Now she’s come back into the sport to aim for her sixth Olympic Games with the goal of going after gold medal number five.  

Lipa is about to embark on a comeback to rival all comebacks.  

After two years out of competition, in January 2003, Lipa put away her post-Olympic Games retirement plan, dusted off her unisuit, put an oar in her hand and joined again the daily training regime of the Romanian National team. This decision was fuelled by Lipa’s desire to strive for a personal record of six Olympic Games. ?I chose to return to the boat because I felt there was more that I could do,? says Lipa who aims also to add a fifth Olympic gold to her collection.  

Lipa’s international rowing career began 23 years ago. At this time some of her current teammates were barely out of nappies, oars were spoon shaped and wooden and women’s races were restricted to 1000 metres. It was 1981 and Lipa won her first World Championship medal as a member of Romania‘s quad. She was 16. 

Lipa admits that it has been a challenge to fit in with her younger colleagues. But her positive impact on the crew has not been ignored. In Lipa’s first international race after her comeback, the third World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland last year, the Romanian women’s eight came first with the familiar face of Lipa in six seat. The win broke a medals drought that had struck the eight following their 2000 Olympics gold medal win.

When Lipa talks about training she talks in decades and believes that she is just as physically capable today as she was as a young rower. ?I feel the same as when I was 19,? says Lipa. But Lipa admits that she has changed her training to focus more on technique. ?Twenty years ago I rowed 60km per day, now I row 45 km.? Lipa now focuses on maximum efficiency of the movement of the oars. ?Technique is important now. Back then I relied on force,? says Lipa.  

Lipa has not ruled out the option of continuing on to the next Olympics in 2008. ?Yes,? she admits. ?I might get the idea to continue until Beijing.? She also cultivates the idea of becoming a coach and has the further option of continuing her career as a policewoman.  

The Lipa Tally (Olympic and World Championship medals):

2000 Olympic Games   W8+   1
1996                                W8+   1
1992                                W2x   2
1992                                W1X   1
1988                                W4X   3
1988                                W2x   2
1984                                W2x   1

2003 World Championships   W8+   2
1996                                           W4-   2
1994                                           W2-   2
1994                                           W8+   3
1993                                           W2x   6
1993                                           W1x   7
1992                                           W2x   6
1991                                           W2x   2
1991                                           W1x   2
1989                                           W2x   2
1989                                           W1x   1
1987                                           W2x   2
1986                                           W2x   2
1985                                           W2x   2
1983                                           W2x   3
1982                                           W4x   3
1981                                           W4x   1