The Chinese rowing dragon rears at junior champs

Being the first Beijing Olympic test event the Junior Championships attracted much interest with Chinese camera crews circling the venue and 500 Chinese media adding to the big event feeling. Despite glitches in the medals ceremony, overall the event got the thumbs up from FISA Executive Director Matt Smith and FISA's Technical Delegate for the Olympic Games Mike Tanner who describe the event as a "very successful and excellent test event".

For the junior finals the weather remaining hot and an ever so slight headwind gave an indication of the conditions that could occur for rowing at the 2008 Olympic Games. An indication of China’s potential also reared as their junior team took over from regular leaders Germany to take the top nation spot overall.

Junior Women’s Four (JW4-) – Final

A fitting start for the host nation, a win for China. The first showdown between top junior nation Germany and up-and-coming rowing nation China opened the A Finals. At the start Italy took the lead. It didn’t last long as China, stroked by Ru Zhou, found their stride and pushed past maintaining a solid 36 stroke rate pace. Germany held the Chinese pace with the remainder of the field vying for third.

China remained in control at the front of the field with Germany following but without the ability to attack. Belarus then pulled out a 40 stroke rate sprint which accelerated them past New Zealand and into the bronze medal spot.

Later at the press conference the Chinese gold medallists said their goal was now the Olympic Games and when asked if they would earn money from having won they replied, “We never think about money, we are only very proud to win.”

Results: CHN, GER, BLR, NZL, ITA, GBR

Yan Han (CHN) – gold medal
What is your goal for the future?
"We just achieved our goal for now!”

Ronja Schuette (GER) – silver medal
How was the race?
"Everything was “geil.”

Vera Svislionak (BLR) – bronze medal
Did you expect to be on the podium?
"Yes, we expected it a little, but with the weather conditions it was really hard for us.”
Any plans for next year?
“One of us is still a junior, for the rest of us, we will train hard.”

Junior Men’s Coxed Four (JM4+) – Final

New Zealand took off with a flying start hitting a 42 stroke rate pace and tried to maintain the psychological advantage of being in the lead. They couldn’t. First Germany swallowed up the black suited crew, then Italy found their stride and also went after the lead. As New Zealand slipped back, the top medal spot was fiercely being contended by Germany, France and Italy. Who had the best sprint?

With just 250m left to row Italy, coxed by Andrea Marcaccini, broke into the lead. France sprinted through to second and Germany takes bronze. The Italians were ecstatic. Two seat Adriano Scardino taking his oar out to show the world. France’s happy coxswain Anthony Benoit jumps into the water.

Results: ITA, FRA, GER, NZL, AUS, UKR

Francesco Baldi (ITA) – gold medal
How do you feel after this race?
"Last year I came second, so winning is OK for this year. We are the best. It is the best thing in my life.”

Massimiliano Lundi (ITA) – gold medal
What in the next step for you?
“The World Rowing U23 Championships, next year, but first to participate, not to win.”
Did you like the Shunyi race course?
“Bella regatta.”

Silvere Barde (FRA) – silver medal
Did you expect to be on the podium?
"Yes, we were looking forward to that.”
How was the race?
“We started a little behind but tried to stay in touch. The German went out really fast, we were level with the Italians, and finally could pass the Germans."
What will you do next year?
“It depends on my studies. I hope I can continue to practice rowing. If everything goes well, I can still be on the French national team for the next 15 years, and this medal will help me a lot.”

Immo Ihnen (GER) – bronze medal
Was this an unexpected position for you?
"We were very close to the French boat, so we are happy, but a little disappointed not to beat the French.”

Junior Women’s Single Sculls (JW1x) – Final

Coming into this final it was clear that to beat Weiwei Zhu of China would take an outstanding effort. But Zhu had not yet met Tina Manker of Germany. Today Zhu and Manker met. By the first 500m mark it was no contest. No one was going to catch Zhu. By the half-way point Zhu had opened up such a lead that it would take a disaster for anyone to catch her.

Manker slipped into second and did her best to close the yawning gap that Zhu had created. Coming into the final sprint Zhu must have been able to hear the support of the crowd while Manker found herself under pressure from Donata Vistartaite of Lithuania, now rating 36 strokes per minute. Manker reacted back realising the Lithuanian threat. Zhu takes first, Manker second and Vistartaite earns bronze.

Results: CHN, GER, LTU, GBR, NOR, CAN

Weiwei Zhu (CHN) – gold medal
How was the race?
"It was difficult, but something difficult is good. The competitors were very strong.”

Donata Vistartaite (LTU) – bronze medal
Did you expect this result?
"In my heart I really hoped, but it was an extremely tough race. There were some very strong girls out there.”
Next year?
“This is my last year as a junior, I am hoping to integrate the U23 team next year and row with other girls.”

Junior Men’s Single Sculls (JM1x) – Final

Coaches on bikes following this race must have numbered at least 50 for these six finalists in the men’s single. The coach for Bulgaria’s Aleksandar Aleksandrov must have kept Aleksandrov a little long on the shore as Aleksandrov was given a warning for turning up late. It didn’t seem to deter the Bulgarian. After shaking off a fast start by New Zealand, last year’s silver medallist Aleksandrov found the lead with Mathias Rocher of Germany sticking closely to his heels.

Rocher was unrelenting. Aleksandrov powered on. Coming into the final sprint Rocher gave it all he had with Aleksandrov answering every attack. Aleksandrov becomes Junior World Champion. Rocher earns silver and Martin Sinkovic of Croatia becomes the bronze medallist. On the winners podium, Aleksandrov showed his emotion, crying as the Bulgarian anthem sounded.

Results: BUL, GER, CRO, NZL, LTU, GRE

Alexsandar Aleksandrov (BUL) – gold medal
How do you feel after the race?
"Very good, it was great. I am very happy.”
Did you like it here in Shunyi?
“I had problems with the heat and jetlag during my first days here.”

Mathias Rocher (GER) – silver medal
You were very close to the first sculler at the finish, how was it?
"At the end of the race I could not see the other scullers, because of the very bright sun here in Shunyi. However, I am very pleased with my result.”

Martin Sinkovic (CRO) – bronze medal
Did you expect to be on the podium?
"I never expect anything, but I was of course thinking about it. Getting a medal is great. I am very, very pleased with this third place. It is my dream.”
What about next year?
“I will no longer be a junior. But I would like to row the single again.”

Junior Women’s Pair (JW2-) – Final

Mariana Todoran and Cristina Ilie of Romania took off in the lead putting China on defence. The Romanians come to this event as the most experiences. Todoran has a gold medal from last year’s eight while Ilie has 2006 bronze from the double and 2005 silver in the eight. But newcomers, Yuanyuan Hao and Chaoqun Ni of China were showing no respect to Romania’s experience. Hao and Ni kept pace with Todoran and Ilie and at the 1250m mark had taken the lead. Germany’s Nadja Drygalla and Ulrike Sennewald then started to attack. Todoran and Ilie were running out of steam.

At the line Ni and Hao, to the shouts of “Chi-na” from the crowd had earn another gold for China, Drygalla and Sennewald take silver and Todoran and Ilie earn junior bronze.

Results: CHN, GER, ROU, BUL, POR, USA

Yuanyuan Hao (CHN) – gold medal
Did you expect to win?
"No, we did not imagine that!”
What are your plans for the future?
“We have no plans now. We dedicate this race to our parents, our coach, and all the spectators who came here in Shunyi.”

Ulriche Sennewald (GER) – silver medal
You were very close to the Chinese boat at the end of the race?
"I did not see anything, but anyway, I am very happy.”

Junior Men’s Pair (JM2-) – Final

Romania has been a regular on the medals podium at junior events and today Ionut Minea and Ciprian Focariu aimed to make it another for their country. Taking an early lead, Romania tried to hold off the Chinese charge coming from Shengjun Jin and Feng Xue. At the half-way point Minea and Focariu still had a slight advantage.

The Romanians then began to run out of steam and Jin and Xue took over in the lead. Then Canada’s Anthony Jacob and Conlin McCabe took advantage of the situation pushing past Minea and Focariu from third. At the line China had gold, Canada take silver and Romania hold on to bronze. Focariu showed the effect of the heat barely making it through the medals ceremony.

Results: CHN, CAN, ROU, GER, AUT, CZE

Anthony Jacob (CAN) – silver medal
How was the race, did you have a good feeling during the race?
"The Chinese boat was very fast, we tried to stay ahead of them at the start, but could not. We tried to do our best technically. Last year we were 4th in the JM4+, and one of the guys from Romania was against us. Next year, there will be trials again in Canada, and we want to try to go on rowing together in the pair, and hope to qualify for the U-23 World Rowing Championships.”

Ionut Minea (ROU) – bronze medal
Did you expect the bronze medal?
"We wanted much more, but this is the race. It was a good race and it is good it is finished now.”
What about next year?
“We will try to go to the World Rowing U23 Championships, but maybe in other boats than the pair. It has been only 3 months that we have been rowing together in the pair, so we stay open for next year.”

Junior Women’s Double Sculls (JW2x) – Final

Leading the way from the very first stroke was Julia Lepke and Carina Bar of Germany. Their lead was so solid that by the half-way point they had more than a boat's length lead over China’s Rui Xu and Yangyang Zhang in second with the reigning junior champions Kaisa Pajusalu and Jevgenia Rondina of Estonia following in third.

Xu and Zhang then got their second wind going through the middle of the race, snatching the lead from Lepke and Bar. The Germans held on with Pajusalu and Rondina trying to work their way closer to the leaders. Coming into the final sprint disaster struck the German boat. Perhaps an equipment problem, Lepke and Bar slowed down to a virtual limp, their stroke unable to do much at all and their steering lost. Xu and Zhang seized the opportunity along with Estonia with Austria’s Birgit Puehringer and Lisa Farthofer taking advantage.

Results: CHN, EST, AUT, NOR, GER, GRE

Zhang Yangyang (CHN) – gold medal
How was the race?
"This is not our best race. Now we will go on training everyday as for a competition. We do not have further plans. I have started rowing two and a half years ago, and we trained only three months together."

Kaisa Pajusalu (EST) – silver medal
You won last year. Did you have pressure this year?
"All the people hoped we would win this year, but it is impossible to always win, and you never know, especially at the junior level. Chinese girls were very strong this year, so we are satisfied with our silver medal because the competition was very hard.”

Lisa Farthofer (AUT) – bronze medal
What is your feeling after the race?
"It is a wonderful day, it is my most beautiful birthday!” (she turned 16 the 10th of august)

Birgit Puehringer (AUT) – bronze medal
“It is a very hard competition and this race with China and Germany. When I turned around during the race I was surprised to see us in third place. It was really unexpected.”

Junior Men’s Double Sculls (JM2x) – Final

Germany’s Hagen Rothe and Sebastian Peter must have been taking note of China’s winning tactics and they wanted to do something about it. The German duo took the lead and worked at giving Wei Han and Xiaotao Zhong of China no chance to deny them of the lead. Rothe and Peter’s tactic was working. Going through the half-way point the German double had a boat length advantage with China remaining in second. Ukraine’s Ivan Dovgodko and Volodymyr Teterych slipped into third as the race turned into a procession.

At the finish Rothe and Peter had a five boat length lead to take gold. Han and Zhong earn silver and Dovgodko and Teterych become junior bronze medallists.

Results: GER, CHN, UKR, ITA, SLO, SRB

Hagen Rothe (GER) – gold medal
"Great opponents, great weather, great course."

Wei Han (CHN) – silver medal
What was the most difficult part of the race?
"The 2000 meters were difficult. We are of course disappointed not to be first. Next year, we will train hard to make the national team again, but it will be difficult.”
China is very strong this year, why?
“Our coach had learned a lot, and made a good planification of our training."

Ivan Dovgodko (UKR) – bronze medal
Did you expect to win a medal?
"Yes! Of course! We even wanted to beat the Chinese! But it was a very hard race, especially the weather that is very different from Ukraine, and makes it very hard to breathe. Next year we will try to go to the World Rowing U23 Championships, both of us.”

Junior Men’s Four (JM4-) – Final

Great Britain had the lead right from the start and following their senior counterparts they kept the rating at a high and solid 35 stroke rate aiming to move away from any potential competition for the gold medal spot. Germany tried their best to attack at the 1000m mark. But it looked like the German’s 36 stroke rate was compromising their technique and Great Britain remained in the lead.

Meanwhile Italy and the Netherlands were going hammer and tongs both desperate for the bronze medal spot. The dual was won by the Netherlands who pulled out the fastest sprint of the entire field with a rating of 43. At the line Great Britain held on to gold, Germany take silver and the Netherlands earn bronze.

Results: GBR, GER, NED, ITA, CHN, BUL

George Nash (GBR) – gold medal
How did your race go?
“We went out hard, at 750 meters we unleashed."

Mathew Rossiter (GBR) – gold medal
“We won all our races, and did not want to be a disaster, and loose”.

Kieren Emery (GBR) – gold medal
How long have you been together?
“We have been rowing together for three months, but I was moved into the boat three weeks ago after final trials."

Bastian Bechler (GER) – silver medal
Was this an expected result?
“No.”
Do you want so say something?
“No.”
So you are very tired?
“Dead.”

Bob van Velsen (NED) – bronze medal
Did you hope to get a medal?
"We are very happy, we are all good friends, we train in the same club, and have worked together in this boat since November. Next year we are all senior, and we really hope to be in the same boat. Together or nothing. The race was very close, we gave all we had and the finish was very tight."

Junior Women’s Quadruple Sculls (JW4x) – Final

Germany turned this race into a procession by taking off at a pace that left the rest of the crews up for a huge challenge. Austria and Belarus tried their best to hold Germany’s pace but did not have the same power. As Austria began to slip back Belarus slipped into second with Greece now going after the Belarusians. The final sprint seemed academic as Germany continued to hold a solid lead with Belarus comfortably in second.

Then the Czech Republic attacked, putting Greece’s bronze medal position under threat. Greece reacted with vengeance. Germany takes gold, Belarus silver and Greece earns a well-deserved bronze. After the finish Greece and Belarus both looked ready to celebrate. On the medals podium Germany showed the emotions that come from winning.

Results: GER, BLR, GRE, CZE, AUT, NZL

Claudia Schiwy (GER) – gold medal
What did you expect today?
"We trained to win, we had a great feeling today.”

Maria Maslava (BLR) – silver medal
Are you tired after this race?
"This is such a good feeling, it is worth training and working hard just to feel what I feel now."

Volha Bushkova (BLR) – silver medal
Did you expect to be on the podium today?
"We were hoping to get a medal, but in the final, anything can happen. We are satisfied withour race, and surprised to have beaten the greeks. Next year three of us will change of category and be senior and maye be in the BLR W8+."

Evi Konstantinidou (GRE) – bronze medal
You took a flag in your boat during the race!
"We were very confident. Last year we were 4th, and we knew we would be on the podium this year. Next year we will try to go to the U-23 World Rowing Championships, all together, in the same boat.”

 

Junior Men’s Quadruple Sculls (JM4x) – Final

On paper Slovenia had the goods with three returnees from last year’s boat that finished sixth. On China’s home turf, with the host nation’s squad on fire, Slovenia had a tough task. Slovenia left the starter's hands a little slow while China stormed out to take the lead followed closely by Latvia.

Going through the middle of the race Latvia still was well within range of attacking China for the lead as Slovenia found their rhythm and also went after China. Still very much in a medal chance France and Germany kept their boats overlapping. Coming into the final sprint France, Latvia, Slovenia and China charged for the line. A little off the pace Great Britain’s Jon Preston must have taken a bad stroke and slipped further back.

In a very close finish China take gold, Slovenia earns silver and Latvia win junior bronze.

Results: CHN, SLO, LAT, FRA, GER, GBR

Shuo Wang (CHN) – gold medal
Did you hear the cheering during the race?
"In the middle of the race, all we could hear was the rhythm of the boat. In the last 500 meters, we heard the cheers of the crowds “Go China”, it was very exciting.”
How did you find the race?
“It was really tough. All the teams were very good and it was very close”.
Haijiao Shan (CHN) – gold medal
Why does China win so many medals?
“Our coaching and our training had had a lot of progress”.

Vito Galicic (SLO) – silver medal
Did you expect this place?
"No, we just dreamt of it.
What do you do next?
“Party! And tomorrow we are back to Slovenia. Next year we expect to be selected for the World Rowing U23 Championships, and win a medal again.”

Lauris Sire (LAT) – bronze medal
Did you expect to be on the podium?
"No it is incredible, I cannot believe it. The last strokes, we really put all our power in. Next year we all become senior, and our biggest ambition would be the Olympic Games.”
How long have you been training together?
“All summer, for the last three months.”

Junior Women’s Eight (JW8+) – Final

Romania are the reigning Junior World Champions in this event and they wanted that gold medal again. Under the command of coxswain Silvia Papava the Romanian’s fired out of the starting blocks in the lead with the United States and Germany in hot pursuit. These three countries are used to battling each other at the senior level in this event and all three nations place a lot of emphasis on their country’s eight.

At the half-way point Romania remained in the lead with the United States and Germany holding an impressive centre lane battle that had the US in second and then Germany taking it from them. Then China tried to get into the medals action and the sprint was on. At the line Romania had retained their World Champion status. The United States tried to close on Germany but the Germans earn silver. The United States win bronze. The Germans looked overjoyed, the US devastated. Enthusiastic Romanian supporters gathered for the medals ceremony.

Results: ROU, GER, USA, CHN, NED, POL

Ioana Craciun (ROU) – gold medal
Did you expect to win?
"I hoped, but everybody wants to win. We were scared by the USA."

Lara Schwensen (GER) – silver medal
How was it to cox this boat?
"It was a great feeling because in the last meters, we caught up with the American boat, we are all very happy.”

Junior Men’s Eight (JM8+)

China wanted this one. They bolted out of the starting blocks and earned a slight lead over Germany within the first 500m. The Germans fought back and going through the middle of the race they earned the leaders' advantage. China tried to hold on but found, instead, a new threat coming from last year’s winners, New Zealand. With just 300m left to row, New Zealand, now clear of China, went after Germany their rating rising to 38. Germany reacted back with 37.

At the line Germany win gold, New Zealand take silver and China earn bronze.

Results: GER, NZL, CHN, ITA, USA, ROU

Ben-Jack Drese (GER) – gold medal
How was it to cox a winning boat?
"It was wonderful! It is also nice that Germany won the eight again.”

Brad Ross (NZL) – silver medal
Are you disappointed not to finish first?
"We were obviously a little disappointed just after the race, but now, having thought about it we realize that silver medal is really good. We had a really good race and gave it the best.”

Robert Salvesen (NZL) – silver medal
How was the race?
“It was our best race. We were as fast as possible. It was very mental during the race.”