Rowing sprint at first Mediterranean Beach Games

The Rowing Beach Sprints included races in six boat classes: the coastal single sculls, double sculls and coxed quadruple sculls for men and for women, with a mixed relay race closing the three-day rowing competition. The race course was 300m long and 150m wide and also included a running sprint on the beach.

Six nations featured on the medals table, with France earning the most gold medals (four), and Italy claiming the most medals overall (seven).

A number of well-known former Olympic rowers participated in the competition, with Olympic gold medallist Simone Raineri of Italy winning the men’s coastal single sculls. “I found a great and fun atmosphere,” says Raineri. “It was competitive at the same time.”

Igor Boraska, Olympic bronze medallist and a member of FISA’s Athletes Commission, raced in Croatia’s coastal men’s double sculls.  Boraska described the atmosphere at the rowing site and along the beach front as “very different than at standard rowing regattas where you usually see rowers warming-up, running, minding their own business, being all too serious… This was very much opposite to that – very spontaneous, unconventional, with rowers and spectators standing or laying on the beach, watching and cheering for their teams – the loudest were the Tunisians and the hosts, the Italians!”

“Although I like the running and slalom parts,” explained Boraska, “this was a sprint regatta, with the total course length being only 600m. Being 45 years old, this is not my strongest event!”

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Greek Olympians, the brothers Apostolos and Nikolaos Gkountoulas, also raced in the coastal double. “This kind of race format is a very good challenge for every experienced rower,” said Nikolaos. “You need to think of more things than your technique and performance. There was a running sprint in the shallow waters and a very short slalom rowing course with a U-turn at mid-course. It really is a clever rowing style.”

Asked if they would like to take part in the Beach Games again, Nikolaos exclaimed: “That’s for sure! These kinds of races are really enjoyable for the rowers as well as the spectators. This is a good opportunity for new people to come closer to rowing.”

Describing the level of competition, Nikolaos said: “Of course it could be higher but we gradually see high-level rowers trying their best in coastal rowing. This is very optimistic for the future of coastal rowing.”

“The level of competition at the Mediterranean Beach Games was pretty solid with leading countries like France and Italy fielding their strongest coastal crews,” said Boraska, “Other smaller nations like Greece, Slovenia, Tunisia and Algeria also won medals. The only strong Mediterranean nation missing from the Games was Spain. Overall, we had some great and very interesting races, particularly finals – in the men’s single sculls, Simone Raineri beat the Tunisian fellow (Ben) by just few tenths of a second. The relays were also really exciting and full of good atmosphere and vibes,” added Boraska.

Boraska is planning to attend the 2015 World Rowing Coastal Championships in Lima, Peru, this coming November. “It will be my third try in double sculls at the World Coastal Champs and a unique experience to race in ocean conditions that have totally different types of waves than the ones we are used to in Croatia or in the Mediterranean,” he said. “It is a challenge that I am eager to take, even at 45. I’m sure that the organisers from Lima, with whom I’m already in contact, will do their best to make this event a big success and that the athletes will feel more than welcome in Peru.”

The Gkountoulas brothers are also dreaming to compete in Lima, but that will depend on whether they are able to find sponsorship. “It’s a hard period for our country,” said Nikolaos. “It’s really a long, long way from Greece. We are sure the conditions will be extreme out there in the ocean and it would be great if we could get this experience.”

The Mediterranean Beach Games are scheduled to be held every four years.

For detailed results from Pescara, click here.

For information about the World Rowing Coastal Championships to be held in Lima, Peru from 13 to 15 November, click here.