PRESS RELEASE: Finalists decided at 2012 European Rowing Championships

<p> Crews in five boat classes raced in semifinals today: the men's double sculls (M2x), the lightweight men's double sculls (LM2x), the men's quadruple sculls (M4x), the men's single sculls (M1x) and the women's single sculls (W1x). To qualify for tomorrow's A-final, crews had to finish in the top three in each semifinal. Some crews in other events qualified for the finals directly from the heats and repechages.<br /> <br /> Italy's Olympic silver medallists from London, Alessio Sartori and Romano Battisti, won Semifinal One in the men's double sculls after winning their heat yesterday. However, the Croatian brothers Martin and Valent Sinkovic won Semifinal Two with a faster qualifying time. Part of the men's quadruple sculls that won silver in London, the Sinkovic brothers are demonstrating their competitiveness as a duo.<br /> <br /> Damir Martin, a lso a member of Croatia's men's quadruple sculls that medalled in London, is racing in the men's single sculls in Varese. Today Martin qualified for tomorrow's A-final behind Lithuania's Mindaugas Griskonis, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with internationally even when racing alone. Tim Maeyens of Belgium set an Olympic Best Time in London, but then finished 12th at the Games. Now racing at the European Rowing Championships he seems in top form, having won his heat yesterday and semifinal today.<br /> <br /> Portugal's Nuno Mendes and Pedro Fraga have won silver and bronze at the European Rowing Championships in the lightweight men's double sculls in 2011 and 2010. Having won both their heat and semifinal in Varese so far, they might be on the path to claim their first European gold tomorrow in the A-final.<br /> <br /> In the men's quadruple sculls, Estonia's Olympic crew are racing again. After just missing out on the medals in London (where they finished fourth), they have now won both their heat and semifinal at these European Rowing Championships. Estonia won European silver in the men's quad last year and will aim to do at least just as well in Varese.<br /> <br /> Olympic bronze medallists in the lightweight women's double sculls, Alexandra Tsiavou and Christina Giazitzidou from Greece, will be lining up in one of the two centre lanes in tomorrow's A-final, alongside Italy's Elisabetta Sancassani and Laura Milani. Tsiavou has won European gold in this boat class every year since 2007, with Giazitzidou joining her in 2009. After winning their heat yesterday, the duo will aim to win yet another European Championship A-final tomorrow.<br /> <br /> In the women's pair, Nicoleta Albu and Camelia Lupascu of Romania are two-time European Champions in this boat class. Doubling up in the women's quadruple sculls, they will be also be racing in the A-final of the women's quad, facing Olympic Champions Ukraine.<br /> <br /> Poland won the men's eight at the European Rowing Championships last year and in 2009, European silver in 2010 and bronze in 2008. After winning their heat yesterday, they will aim to win yet another medal in tomorrow's A-final. Romania has been unbeatable in the women's eight at European level since 2007 and tomorrow they will be aiming for their sixth European Championship title in a row.<br /> <br /> Stay tuned to <a href="http://www.worldrowing.com">www.worldrowing.com</a> to follow the racing live thanks to our <a href="http://www.worldrowing.com/live-results">Live Race Tracker and audio commentary</a>.<br /> <br /> Live video streaming will be available for the A-finals on Sunday 16 August from 10:47 CET <a href="http://livemanager.eurovision.edgesuite.net/fisa/site/index.html">here</a>.</p>