07 Dec 2011
World Champion rowers make their wish cont...
What do you wish for when you are already a World Champion? One thing is for sure, there is no slowing down. Spend time over the festive season to read below and find out what our current World Champions wish for the coming year, the event they are most looking forward to and what they plan for Christmas Day.
Florian Eichner (GER M4+)
“At the top of my wish list for 2007 is being successful like in 2006 at the World Rowing Championships in Munich. But I want to reach it in an Olympic class boat. This is also the event I most looking forward to in 2007 because it takes place in Munich in my home country. I think the World Rowing Championships are more important for looking to the Olympic Games 2008 than the European Rowing Championships because countries with big rowing traditions like USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are missing there and in the year before the Olympic Games you have to know your position in the world. Moreover in the men’s eight for USA, Canada and Australia are three of the best rowing crews in the world.”
“This year I hope to have results in every kind of event like the World Rowing Championships and World U23 Rowing Championship. I am in the last U23 year, so I hope I could have results like two years ago, when I won in two pairs. There are many strong athletes in Italy so it is very difficult for us to prove every year, but I will do everything possible.
The first national race in Piediluco on the 14 of April is important for me. There I'll do two pairs with Daniele Gilardoni. It will be very important because that race will be a little first selection.
My Christmas day will be very quiet. I will be with my family, but in the evening I am sure I will have a little training, because it is a tradition with my friends to have a Christmas run.
My dream, like the dream of many others, is the Olympic dream but I know I have to spend much time to reach it. I want to learn from other athletes so I think one day I could win against them.”
Martino Goretti (ITA LM8+)
“In 2007 I hope to be at the same level as my "old" teammates like Luini and Mascarenhas and Pettinari. I'm training hard to do that. I hope to see the results in 2007. I may try to jump in the pair for the Rowing World Cup, but the dream is always the four.
The best event in 2007 will be the Olympic qualification, but I hope also to reconfirm the best time in the U23 four and try to make the same four at the senior level.
I think I’m going to work really hard in the scull and on the ergo until the 31 December with no stopping for Christmas. Then I’ll spend a few days in France on the mountain doing ergo and Nordic skiing, then back training in the pair with my teammate Michele Savrie in Ferrara.”
“I am hoping for health and prosperity and look forward most to the Thetis Sprint race (Amsterdam in June). On Christmas day: Recovery from the efforts of working on my rusty sweep rowing skills (i.e. a few days off, which is a great opportunity to give my hands some rest, and maybe after Christmas Day I am able again to grab an oar without only feeling all those blisters….).”
“My top rowing wish is retaining the World Champion title in Munich. Top non rowing wish must be to cut down working hours from 37 to about 30 to get more spare time with the family between work and rowing. The race I’m looking forward to the most must be the World Rowing Championships. Why? Because it is the World Championships. The workout for Christmas Day is probably going to be 30 – 40 minute running and some pull-ups until my arms are sore. If I am lucky I will find an erg nearby.”
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