Martin Kessler Will Stay on Until Athens 2004

Austrian head coach Martin Kessler, one of the four nominees for this year’s FISA Coach of the Year award has announced he will coach the Austrian team through to Athens 2004.

Kessler’s decision was made after his lightweight men’s coxless four won gold at the 2001 FISA World Rowing Championships in Lucerne last August.

After a disappointing 9^th place at the Sydney Olympic Games the LM4- concentrated their efforts on gathering strength and confidence for the World Championships, without making too many changes to their training techniques.

Although Bernd Wakolbinger, Wolfgang Sigl and Martin Kobau of the Sydney four remained in the boat throughout the 2001 World Cup season, the place of previous crew member Helfried Jurtschitsch was filled by a different athlete at each event.

Kessler has confirmed, however, that the winning combination at the 2001 World Championships – Sebastian Sageder, Bernd Wakolbinger, Wolfgang Sigl and Martin Kobau will remain the same through to Athens.

Kessler took on his current position in 1997 after the Atlanta Olympics and brought the Austrian team to the top in spite of financial hardship. His condition for staying on was a change in the financial situation, and after negotiations with Austrian sports authorities, Kessler said a satisfactory agreement has been reached.

Kessler is currently working on a new men’s quad crew, after Arnold Jonke and Horst Nussbaumer retired from the boat following the Sydney games. He is also in charge of the whole Austrian training program, including Juniors, under 23’s and Masters.