New era for lightweight Danes

Fast starting Ebbesen races for first

Danish rowing became synonymous with their men's lightweight four when the crew went on a winning rampage that lasted from the 1996 Olympics until the end of the decade.

Although the winning streak took a bronze medal detour at Sydney the crew soon came back on track winning both the 2002 and 2003 World Rowing Championships followed by Athens gold. They still hold the World Best Time set in 1999 and perhaps only the German women's quad can be compared to such a successful record.

But is this all about to change? The crew, dubbed the golden four – Guldfireren, which has been relatively stable, is about to lose three of its four members, leaving long-standing coach Bent Jensen with the task of rebuilding the next generation.

Eskild Ebbesen was the first to announce his retirement. Denmark's Olympic flag bearer, most medalled rower and indoor rowing record holder already knew before Athens that this, his third Olympics, would be his swansong. Speaking from his company office where he runs his own healthcare business Ebbesen explained; "This was the right time to stop because the Olympics is something in my rowing career I really look forward to. If I was to continue it would be only to go to the Olympics."

Commitments for Ebbesen have changed to family and work. Wife Rikke recently had their second child and Ebbesen also feels that it's time to focus more on his business, HealthGroup APS. "I didn't work in 2004," he explains. "Now everything is about having a family."

"I'm not involved in rowing right now," says Ebbesen who still keeps fit by cycling and running and is currently preparing for a duathlon. He also recently competed at the Danish indoor rowing championships pulling a respectable 6.26 over 2,000 metres.

Ebbesen admits that he does miss the training and competition but he can no longer justify the amount of time involved in the preparation, training and relaxing that is necessary to be the best.

The lightweight success in Denmark has come despite the small pool of athletes that Danish rowing has to draw from – a total of about 100 elite rowers. Ebbesen puts the success down to the spirit of the team. "We wanted to go forward and we knew we were able to do it."

"Our strategy, for every race, was always to be first, to be number one from the beginning of the race. A fast start was important." Ebbesen goes on to explain. "It became natural for us to do a high stroke rate. It then escalated. In 1994 we were doing about 35 (strokes per minute). Now I don't think we have many strokes under 40."

Ebert celebrates win in Athens

After Ebbesen, Thomas Ebert is the second longest-serving Guldfireren member. Ebert joined the four in 1997 and recently announced that he was leaving, but instead of dropping out of the sport completely Ebert will race internationally for one more season.

"My final regatta will be the 2005 World Rowing Championships," says Ebert who plans to row the lightweight pair with long-time friend Bo Helleberg. In 1996 Ebert and Helleberg rowed the pair to gold and Ebert says rowing together with Helleberg will complete the circle. "We started on the national team together and we'll end together." Helleberg also plans to make 2005 his last year of elite racing.

"I had a dream to win Olympic gold," says Ebert. "Now it's my last season I had to set new goals, new targets. If I continued in the four it would just be another season. I would have to follow the schedule of the national team and that's not inspiring for me. I want to do the season on my own with my own terms and planning."

Helleberg and Ebert, completing the circle

"We'll follow our hearts," says Ebert when asked about his training regime. "For the first time in many years I don't have a plan and I'm enjoying it." Ebert and Helleberg decide their daily workouts when they meet but have solicited the help of former Guldfireren, Thomas Poulsen. Still, Ebert's schedule has not become any easier. He has not had a break from training since Athens and has already competed at the Danish Indoor Rowing Championships followed by the World Indoor Rowing Championships where he tied for gold in his category.

The third Guldfireren loss came when Stephan Moelvig announced that he was taking a break from elite rowing. Moelvig joined the boat in 2002 and in the three seasons since he never lost a major race picking up two World Rowing Championship titles and Olympic gold in the process. After Athens, 26-year-old Moelvig took off to the other side of the world for a holiday in Australia to visit rowing friends and on his return made his rowing plans clear.

"I have retired from elite rowing but I have not retired from rowing," says Moelvig who is choosing to focus on his studies in environmental chemistry but has not ruled out a return. "If the lust for medals returns I will be going for Beijing, but at the moment I'm satisfied with my decision."

Moelvig now rows at the club level but has been far from idle on the fitness front. He still trains up to seven days a week, although he adds that it's on his own terms and time. He competed in the Danish Championships almost directly after Athens winning three titles for his club Bagsværd and is especially proud of racing the "inrigger" a traditional sea-going rowing boat. "I do a lot of swimming, bicycling and a little running and hope to compete in crossroad races," says Moelvig. "And I never take the elevator.

Only surviving member, Kristensen

The team's youngest member, 24-year-old Thor Kristensen, has been with the four since 2001 and is the only member to announce his continuation in the boat. Already back with the Danish rowing system and deep into the winter training cycle, Kristensen recently returned from their training camp in Portugal where the new-look four was selected.

Kristensen is to be joined by Mads Andersen who moves into the four from his World Champion lightweight pair. Andersen has a rowing career that stretches back to 1996 when he won gold as a junior quad member.

This is the first time Andersen has been selected for the four and he will step into the large and celebrated stroke seat shoes left by Ebbesen.

Mogens Jessen has also been chosen to come into the boat. Moving from last year's Danish lightweight quad, Jessen will take up the seat vacated by Ebert. This will not be the first time in the four for Jessen who acted as a substitute during the 2003 Munich Rowing World Cup. At this same regatta Jessen won gold in the lightweight eight, his best international result to date.

The final Guldfireren spot will go to Asbjørn Joensen who rowed last year in the Under 23 lightweight four. Twenty year old Joensen is yet to row at the senior level internationally but last year's fourth place results in the four gave Coach Jensen a taste of what he was looking for.

The new era of Guldfireren is now in the hands of Jensen and Ebbesen for one will be following the new crew's progress with interest. The strategy – always to be first.

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