Single scullers in the C and D semifinals

For some of these up-and-coming athletes, advancing to the C Final was a solid goal and the featured crews represented a cross section of the world’s continents.

WOMEN'S SINGLE SCULLS (W1x)

Finishing in the top three of each of these two semifinals meant being able to compete in the C Final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The remaining three scullers would compete in the D Final.

Semifinal C/D 1

Rowing veteran Maira Gonzalez of Cuba, 40, was the first to show. Gonzalez competed at the 2000 Olympics in the single and earned a very credible seventh place. Today she had a chance of making the C Final and therefore the best that Gonzalez can aim for this time is 13th overall. Likewise, Nuria Dominguez of Spain will not be able to do as well as her previous Olympics. Dominguez raced to sixth at the Athens Olympics and only just scraped through to Olympic qualification this year.

Both Gonzalez and Dominguez held a 31 stroke rate pace through the body of the race to remain in first and second respectively. Pushing past Brazil, Argentina’s Gabriela Best got herself into third. These three scullers clung tightly to their positions until the end. In a Spanish speaking sweep, Gonzalez, Dominguez and Best go to the C Final.

Semifinal C/D 2

Rika Geyser of South Africa got off the line first and by the 250m mark had already shown that she was a class above the rest of the field. This is the first Olympic time for Geyser but she has been competing internationally since 1999 and also has the experience of United States collegiate rowing.

No one could get anywhere close to Geyser who is one of three South African athletes competing at the Olympics in rowing. The race settled into positions with Soraya Jadue of Chile in second and Inga Dudchenko of Kazakhstan following in third. No challenges went on. Geyser cruised across the finish line at an easy 29 stroke rate. Geyser, Jadue and Dudchenko go on to the C Final.

MEN'S SINGLE SCULLS (M1x)

These scullers were aiming to be in the top three positions which would give them a spot in the C Final. All others would go to the D Final.

Semifinal C/D 1

Right from the start Patrick Loliger of Mexico showed his boat speed. He got his nose out ahead of Chile’s Oscar Vasquez with Olympic veteran Aly Ibrahim of Egypt following in third. But it was Hiu Fung Law of Hong Kong that was receiving the biggest cheer from the near capacity crowd of 17000.

Loliger settled into a 33 stroke rate pace and held the lead. But going into the third 500 Vasquez poured on the power and got ahead of Loliger. These two scullers must have raced each other many times and would know their strengths and weaknesses. Loliger pushed back. Vasquez tried to hold on. Loliger finishes first, Vasquez second and Ibrahim third. These three will go to the C Final.

Semifinal C/D 2

Dutch sculler Sjoerd Hamburger had the race of his life in the quarterfinal. He led a classy field for most of the race but ran out of steam and was overtaken by three boats in the final sprint. This heartbreaking fourth place finish relegated Hamburger to today’s C/D semifinal. Hamburger tried a new tactic today. Racing conservatively at the start and settling into a 26 – 28 stroke rate pace, Hamburger managed to hold the lead.

Estonia’s Andrei Jamsa kept Hamburger honest and a 35 stroke rate gave Jamsa the lead at the 1300m mark. Hamburger seemed unphased and easily pushed back into the lead. Hamburger, Jamsa and Nocetti in third go on to the C Final.

Mathias RAYMOND (MON)
“I am the first Monaco rower ever to participate in an Olympic Games. It’s a great experience and I’m very lucky to be here. It was my goal to make the Final C, but I’m still young and inexperienced and have some work to do. Last year I was 6th in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships but this year only 8th because the wind conditions didn’t suit me. I don’t get much recognition as an athlete at home, but Prince Albert follows my progress and helps me out. He gave me the great honour to carry our flag at the Opening Ceremony. I train in Lyons in France, and at the French Training Centre. Monaco has five athletes here and there is a good atmosphere in the Olympic Village.”

Sjoerd HAMBURGER (NED)
“Yesterday I wasn’t fast enough but felt I was better than a C/D finalist. I needed to prove that today with a good final sprint. I’ve nothing else left now but the Final C. There’s great dualism here; in one way it’s like a regular World Championships – rowing, rowers, 2000m, lots of FISA officials; in the other way this is bigger, larger than life. I get a lot of attention from my country’s press. This is still rowing but a big step up to be in the Olympic Games.”