Italy off to a powerful start in under-23 finals

This was in cross wind conditions which meant a decision was made to change lane five and six into the top lanes. Along with the Italian success, Iran celebrated their first ever medal in international rowing.

Women’s Four (BW4-) – A Final

The Italians won this event last year, but with just Cristina Romiti returning to the boat this year it was anyone’s guess whether they could do it again. Australia must have thought not. Australia took off at a cracking pace followed closely by Italy and the Netherlands. The Dutch then gained the lead but there was very little in it. Then Italy started to show their true azure colours. Doing a big push in the third 500m brought Italy into the lead as they kept their rating up at 37 strokes per minute. Romiti called for more. The lower-rating Dutch tried to hold on followed by Great Britain as Australia began to fade. At the line Italy had defended their title. The Dutch take second and Great Britain take the third medal.

Results: ITA, NED, GBR, USA, AUS, BLR

Gold: Claudia WURZEL (ITA)
“We’re happy! It was a close race at first, but we didn’t look outside of the boat. We were just pulling.”

Bronze: Rachael JEFFERIES (GBR)
“It was tough, but we were committed. We could have been in the medals or 5th. We didn’t know. We’re relieved and excited.”

Men’s Coxed Four (BM4+) – A Final

Could Italy repeat last year’s double header effort? Could their men in the four defend their title like the women? Italy has retained the entire crew that won gold in 2007 but this year’s depth of talent meant a much tougher field. The Italians took it in stride and got out to a lead at the start. Keeping their rating high Italy moved further away from the closest challenger, Ukraine, as the race progressed. Germany tried to challenge Ukraine, but the race was turning into a procession. Coming into the finish Germany took their stroke rate up to try and hold on to third. Italy was all but untouchable at the front. Italy make it two for two on the medals front.

Results: ITA, UKR, GER, CRO, USA, SRB

Lightweight Women's Single Scull (BLW1x) – A Final

Australia’s Carly Cottam and Hanna Bandarevich of Belarus broke away at the start with Cottam earning a slight edge. This is the 21-year-old’s second time at the under-23 championships but it is her first time racing the single. With Bandarevich keeping her honest, Cottam held her stroke rate at a solid 33 through the body of the race and her boat in front. As Bandarevich began to fade in the second half of the race, Helke Nieschlag of Germany took advantage of the situation and pushed past. Belarus continued to face. At the line Cottam had become under-23 World Champion, Nieschlag takes second and Bandarevich holds on to third.

Results: AUS, GER, BLR, FRA, IRL, GRE

Gold: Carly COTTAM (AUS)
“It was a really tough race! I was in the double last year. I just hoped to make the A Final this year. I really didn’t expect to win gold. It was an amazing race.”

Silver: Helke NIESCHLAG (GER)
“The race was very hard. I am happy with my result."

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (BLM1x) – A Final

Graham Oberlin-Brown of New Zealand has a task. He wanted to defend the title won by his country last year in this event. Coming through the heats and semifinals Oberlin-Brown had dominated his races. What could his competition do today? In what has become usual style, Oberlin-Brown took off in the lead. Only Joris Pijs of the Netherlands seemed to be able to hold this early pace. Settling into a 31 stroke rate, Pijs had to keep his rating in the high 30s to try and hold on. But coming up on Pijs was Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh of Iran. Naghadeh is one of a new Iranian rowing squad coached by Romanian Olympic coach Nick Gioga and he was rating a high 41 strokes per minute with no sign of settling down.

Coming into the line Oberlin-Brown remained comfortably in front. A huge open-water gap then went back to Naghadeh, now rating 43, in second, with Pijs coming through for third. Naghadeh goes into rowing history as the first medal for Iran on the international scene. The overjoyed Naghadeh fell into the water after the finish.

Results: NZL, IRI, NED, GER, AUT, SLO

Gold: Graham Oberlin-Brown (NZL)
“The conditions were difficult. I went out hard and had the first glimpse to the side at the 1000m mark. I was surprised to be ahead. After that I just went for it. It is amazing to win gold.”

Silver: Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh (IRI)
“It was a good race. I am very happy with my result.”

Lightweight Men’s Pair (BLM2-) – A Final

Andrea Caianiello and Armando Dell’Aquila of Italy not only became under-23 champions last year, they also became senior World Champions. Today they went out to defend their title. Taking off at the start Caianiello and Dell’Aquila had the leading edge but they found themselves being paced by James Thompson and Matthew Brittain of South Africa. This was not surprising as Thompson and Brittain finished second last year and also raced together at the under-23 level in 2006 in the lightweight four. Going through the middle of the race Caianiello and Dell’Aquila started to move away from the field. South Africa appeared to be at the Italians’ mercy.

Then Vincent and Tycho Muda of the Netherlands did a huge move and overtook South Africa. Thompson and Brittain had to react. Taking their rating to 37 the South Africans pushed hard. The Muda brothers tried to retain their pace. At the line Italy had won easily, South Africa managed to get back into second and the Netherlands take third.

Results: ITA, RSA, NED, FRA, DEN, GER

Gold: Andrea CAIANIELLO (ITA)
“We are very, very happy. This is our third gold medal at the U23 Championship in this event. Next week, we go to Linz and try to win there.”

Bronze: Tycho MUDA (NED)
“It was a very tough race. We didn’t know that it would be this hard. This is our first time on the podium. We are very happy.”

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BLM4x) – A Final

At the senior level Italy practically owns this event. Last year the Italians won at the under-23 level and set an under-23 World Best Time in the process. This year only Matteo Amigoni returns to the boat but coming through the semifinals Italy was looking good. At the start, however, it was Germany in the lead. Italy chased hard but Germany managed to just stay in front. Then going into the third 500m the Germans began to weaken. Italy moved ahead with Denmark also very much on the pace. Last year the Danes finished third, but from that crew only Henrik Stephansen remains. Coming into the final sprint three boats were very close: Italy, Germany and Denmark. Who had left the best for last? In an exciting finish Denmark pushed past Germany and then Italy. Denmark wins gold.

Results: DEN, ITA, GER, GBR, SUI, HUN

Gold: Andreas RAMBOEL (DEN)
“Our race plan was to put pressure on Italy. That worked! However, we only realized we won the gold medal when it was announced.”

Bronze: Michael KESCHKA (GER)
“We knew that we are very fast at the start. Therefore we tried to use this advantage as much as possible. Winning a bronze medal is great, however we hoped to win a silver one.”