Entries are in for rowing’s Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, Lucerne (SUI)

The International Rowing Federation, FISA, has received entries for a total of 377 athletes from 50 countries who will compete in one of the 14 Olympic events. This is an increase on four years ago when just 44 countries competed. The men’s and women’s single sculls have attracted the most number of entries – 22 countries in the men’s single and 17 for the women’s single.

Despite the main Olympic Qualification Regatta taking place at last year’s World Rowing Championships, there are still a large number of top crews trying to qualify in Lucerne. In the women’s pair Beijing bronze medallists Yuliya Bichyk and Natallia Helakh of Belarus are still to qualify along with Germany’s top duo, Kerstin Hartmann and Marlene Sinnig who almost qualified in 2011.

Italy is putting their support behind their entry in the men’s double sculls. Multiple Olympic medallist, Alessio Sartori has teamed up with Romano Battisti, hoping to make it happen for their Nation. The French are aiming for success in the men’s four. Their crew includes two of the 2010 World Champions and two from the 2008 Olympic bronze medal boat.

The familiar face of Sophie Balmary (FRA) is back in the women’s single after last racing it internationally at the Beijing Olympics. Balmary will face a large field which includes Serbia’s best, Iva Obradovic and Sanita Puspure of Ireland, both of whom made the final at the Samsung World Rowing Cup in Belgrade earlier this month.

Two-time Olympic finalist Tim Maeyens of Belgium is aiming to qualify in the men’s single sculls. Maeyens will be up against 21 other entries, one being lightweight single sculls champion, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark.

The lightweight men’s double has Zsolt Hirling and Tamas Varga of Hungary back together. Hirling and Varga have raced at the last two Olympic Games and have a World Championship title in this event from 2005. There are 16 entries in the double including junior and under-23 medallist Andrew Campbell and Olympian William Daly racing for the United States.

This regatta is open to crews from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and any other country wishing to qualify in an event that was not on the programme of the three regional Olympic qualification regattas (Asia, Africa and Latin America).

A total of 28 boats will gain Olympic Games places following this regatta, bringing the tally of boats that will compete in London to 550 athletes, making up 202 boats. Athletes who qualify in Lucerne must remain in the same crews as those racing at the London Olympics.  
Boats have already qualified for the London Olympics from the 2011 World Rowing Championships where 129 qualification spots were contested. The African qualification regatta added nine boats followed by the Latin American regatta with 17 boats and the Asian Regatta added 17 boats to the qualified list.

The Final Olympic Qualification Regatta begins on 20 May with finals being raced on 23 May 2012.

To find the complete list of entries click here. Find out what boats have already qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games here.

Number of qualification spots available in Lucerne: