Semis for adaptives at World Rowing Champs

Great Britain race to first in the LTAMx4+

 Today’s semifinals put the adaptive athletes one step closer to qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games which will be held directly following next year’s Olympic Games.

Every boat making the final after today's racing meant that they had secured a birth for next year's Paralympic Games. In each of these three events the top eight boats qualify. As arm's women's single did not race semifinals, more will be revealed with the finals on Saturday.

The arms men’s single (AM1x) six qualifiers for the final are Tom Aggar of Great Britain, who recorded the fastest qualifying time, Eli Nawi of Israel who kept Aggar honest in semifinal one and Patrick Laureau of France. World Champion, Dominic Monypenny of Australia won semifinal two followed by Ron Harvey of the United States who has become used to being the bridesmaid behind Monypenny. Rounding out the A Final is Pierre Morel of Canada.

The trunk and arms double sculls (TA2x) in for one male and one female competitor able to use their trunk and arms only. The six qualifiers are Lucas Pagani and Josiane Lima of Brazil who won semifinal one as they continue to show impressive boatspeed. Italy’s Stefania Toscano and Daniele Stefanoni took second behind the Brazilians and Ukraine qualify from third. Australia’s John MacLean and Kathryn Ross won the second semifinal, beating reigning World Champions Angela Madsen and Scott Brown of the United States who took second. Coming into this regatta Poland were one of the favoured crews. They qualify from third.

The legs, trunk and arms mixed coxed four (LTAMx4+) also had two semifinals with three boats advancing from each semi. Great Britain had a very tight race with Canada in semifinal one with less than a second separating the two boats at the finish. The Netherlands also qualify but were well back in third. The United States had the lead at the start of semifinal two with Italy in hot pursuit. But coming into the final sprint it was Germany that had paced their race better to take first. The US qualify from second and Italy, coxed by Alessandro Franzetti, take the third and final qualifying position.

Adaptive racing will conclude with the finals on Saturday.