Keeping the Paralympic dream alive at Munich

Today at the 1972 Olympic Regatta Course in Munich, Germany, these adaptive rowers lined up for perhaps the most important race so far in their rowing career. This was the day they would keep their chance of Paralympic qualification alive. Racing was hard and it was obvious that nerves were on the edge.

Arms Men’s Single (AM1x) – Repechages

In the first of two repechages, keeping their Olympic hopes alive meant finishing in the top two positions. Early in the piece Spain’s Luis Miguel Castro Carmonia and Jae Ho Choi of Korea got out into the two qualifying positions. Choi used an aggressive high stroke rate but remained behind Spain. Castro and Choi move on to the final under no pressure from the rest of the field.

In repechage two the oldest in the race, Russia’s Alexey Malyshev, 46, was in a category of his own breaking away from the field to lead by clear water. This left a close battle to ensue between the three remaining boats. Germany’s Daniel Sturm had the edge with Japan pushing Sturm hard. The tension showed with Sturm catching a crab and then giving it his all to shake off Japan. At the line Malyshev and Sturm move on to the final keeping their Paralympic hopes alive.

Trunk and Arms Double Sculls (TA2x) – Repechage

In the one repechage, four out of the five boats entered would go on to the final. Still, the pressure was high and racing was intense. Greece took off in front followed closely by Japan. Behind them Korea and Hong Kong held their own race while Kenya started to drop off the pace. At the line Kenya misses out in a spot in the final with Evangelos Karelis and Konstantina Gkaratsa of Greece being the fastest crew from this race through to the final. They will be joined by Japan, Hong Kong and Korea.