Racing for Spot Seven to Twelve in the World - Athens Olympic B-finals

By Melissa Bray

With the top six crews in each event advancing to Saturday and Sunday’s A-finals, today’s B-finals gave athletes the opportunity to still rank within the top 12 in the world. Some top names lined up today including Hungarian World Champion Akos Haller, Russia’s Olympic bronze medalist Irina Fedotova, Germany’s World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Marcel Hacker and two-time World Champion Jane Robinson of Australia.

Women’s Single Scull

This is the third Olympic Games for Russia’s Irina Fedotova and her first one doing it solo. Today Fedotova led the sole Swedish rowing representative, Frida Svensson. Svensson, competing at her first Olympics, wedged herself firmly ahead of Jen Devine of the United States. The top three order remained the same throughout the race as these three scullers go down in history for ranking seventh, eighth and ninth at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

After the finish a happy Svensson said, “My race was really great. I’m happy to have done this result at my first Olympic Games. I’m going to continue to train hard for the next Olympics. My goal when I came here was to get into the B-final so I wasn’t upset after my semi-final.”

Men’s Single Scull

Marcel Hacker of Germany had not planned his Olympics around racing in today’s B-final. Not only did Hacker expect to be in Saturday’s final but, after finishing with bronze in Sydney, Germany’s top sculler was planning on an Olympic gold medal.

Today a more relaxed Hacker came back in good spirits to race a solid field which included Ian Lawson of Great Britain, Davor Mizerit of Slovenia and Switzerland’s Andre Vonarburg. Hacker, complete with toy pig mascot, took off at the front of the field closely followed by Vonarburg with Cuba trying to hold the pace. Hacker and Vonarburg continued to lead the pack while Mizerit used a strong second half to propel him into third. The order remained the same at the line: Hacker in first, a happy Vonarburg in second and Mizerit holding off Lawson to take third.

Hacker said after the race, “During yesterday’s race I was very tense. Today I had nothing to lose and went out there with little stress.” When asked about his stuffed pig passenger Hacker said, “It’s not additional weight. It helps me mentally.”

Women’s Pair

The United States’ Sarah Jones and Kate MacKenzie got off to a speedy start over Bulgaria’s Milka Tancheva and Anna Chuk and held on to the lead through the majority of the race. However, in the final sprint the order was reversed when China’s Huanling Cong and Xueling Feng used a fast second 1000 to move ahead of Bulgaria and pull in front of a withering United States in the final sprint of the race. At the line Bulgaria had also overtaken the United States who had faded back to fourth.

Men’s Pair

After yesterday’s clash in the semi-final of the men’s pair, FISA had ruled that Canada could race in today’s B-final. The Canadians then took this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport appealing to be able to compete in the A-final. The appeal is currently being considered. Chris Jarvis and Dave Calder of Canada chose not to race in today’s B-final as they wanted to hold out for the chance that they may get to race in Saturday’s final.

Thus, five boats turned up for the start of this very competitive men’s pair B-final. All five boats had top athletes and the racing demonstrated this. Italy’s Dario Lari and Giuseppe de Vita got off to a good start ahead of Argentina with Toby Garbett and Rick Dunn of Great Britain close by in third.

Garbett and Dunn have been trying to fill the big shoes left by fellow countrymen and rowing heroes Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell who dominated this event from 2001 until the 2003 World Championships. Today Garbett and Dunn pushed past Argentina to take second behind Italy and then poured on an impressive sprint to win the race to a photo finish. The Brits had pipped Italy in the last 10 metres with Slovenia rowing through to take third.

Women’s Double Sculls

Russia suffered from a fast start and had to watch as France’s Caroline Delas and Gaelle Buniet pushed past to take the lead. Then Australia came at the Russians to relegate them further back down the line. This was followed by a fast finishing Italy that became the final straw for Russia. France finished first, Italy second and Australia’s three-time Olympian Jane Robinson, with partner Donna Martin, finished third.

Russia ended the race well back in fourth.

Men’s Double Sculls

Hungary’s Dr. Akos Haller and Gabor Bencsik came together after the Hungarian Rowing Nationals last month when Bencsik showed more potential than Haller’s partner of three years, Tibor Peto. Today Bencsik in stroke took his boat to the lead and for the first half of the race the duo led the field by just over a boat length.

Behind them a virtual line had formed with Germany Cuba and Great Britain going neck and neck together. The Hungarians meanwhile were paying dearly for their fast first 500 and as they started to show the strain three boats charged past them.

A sprint to the line ended in a photo finish between Great Britain, Germany and Cuba. The verdict: Great Britain first, Germany second and Cuba finished third.

Men’s Four

World Best time holders Germany was taking this race very seriously. By the first 500 metres they had already opened up a full boat length lead over Russia with every intention of extending this lead. As Russia dropped back off the leaders pace, the Czech Republic pulled into second followed closely by Slovenia. Keeping Germany honest, the Czechs kept the pressure on Germany and as the crews sprinted to the line the Czech Republic moved within striking distance of Germany to finish a close second. Slovenia finished just back in third.

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