19 May 2022
From Tokyo 2020, looking forward: the Eights
The 2022 World Rowing season is bearing down on us, and as we move towards the first races of the international season we are reviewing a selection of our Olympic and Paralympic boat classes. The end of an Olympic and Paralympic cycle always means changes are coming – coaches change the nations they are working with, some athletes retire, some athletes stick around, but focus more on their family life or academic life.
They’re big, strong and fast. And that’s just the boat. The eights are the blue ribband event at any regatta. Eight rowers and a coxswain going as hard as they can. And it’s one of the only boats that you can get away with brute strength. But add synchronicity and good technique and you’ve got one fast boat – fast enough that a water skier can be pulled behind it.
Here’s what’s been going on in the men’s and women’s eights over 2021 and then a look into the crystal ball for the 2022 season.
What went on in 2021?
European Rowing Championships
The German men’s eight went out with big intentions at their first regatta of the season. But they seemed to run out of steam with 500m to row. Great Britain, Romania and the Dutch pushed past to take the medals (in that order). For the women Romania has had a string of European Championship titles and they defended their 2020 title successfully. The Netherlands had to be content with second and Russia was in third.
World Rowing Cup Series
Eights turned out to be rather sparse for the 2021 World Rowing Cup Series. Impacted by the global pandemic and also planning ahead to be at their best for the Olympics, the eights barely featured.
They were a no-show at World Cup I and then for World Cup II it was just the men that turned up. But what a race it was! Perennial rivals Great Britain and Germany went head-to-head for the entire 2000m race. The lead bounced back and forth with the British having the edge at the finish. Germany was just 0.03 of a second back.
Again it was just the men at World Rowing Cup III. And the race turned into a bit of an anti-climax as only two boats raced – Germany and Italy. Germany took a comfortable win, but Italy still managed to keep the heat on the Germans as was evident in their winning finishing time of 5:24.
The Olympic Games
The men’s race was definitely five years in the making. Down to the last six boats in the final the most successful crews in recent years were the reigning Olympic Champions, Great Britain and the 2017, 2018 and 2019 World Champions, Germany. The Germans jumped out first and got their nose in front of Great Britain. By the half way point the margins remained tight with New Zealand inching ahead of Great Britain. The Kiwi crew had been last minute Olympic qualifiers and they were on the pace. In the final sprint New Zealand had the lead with Germany and Great Britain going to a photo finish. New Zealand had won their first Olympic Champion title in the eight since 1972.
Results: NZL, GER, GBR, USA, NED, AUS
The women’s eights from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States had not raced internationally since 2019. The European women’s eights had raced each other at the 2020 and 2021 European Rowing Championships. China had only just qualified for the Games at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. New Zealand came into the Olympic final as reigning World Champions. They had qualified directly from their heat, alongside the United States of America, the reigning Olympic Champions. In the repechage, Romania set a new World Best Time (5:52.99) and secured their place in the A-final, followed by Canada, China, and Australia. From the sound of the buzzer in the A-final, Canada took the lead and didn’t let go. Australia and New Zealand closely followed. New Zealand tried to move up on the leading Canadians who looked ready to counter any attack. The final sprint was tight with five boats in it. Canada held off the field to take gold with New Zealand in second and China sprinting through the United States to take third.
Results: CAN, NZL, CHN, USA, AUS, ROU
Now that’s noteworthy
- Hannes Ocik of Germany has moved to Munich for work, but continues to train. He competed in the men’s double sculls at the International Essen Regatta with Olli Zeidler.
- Canada’s Susanne Grainger has been busy. She’s retired, gotten married and is expecting her first child.
- Daniel Williamson of New Zealand has gone back to studying at Yale in the United States.
- Charles Elwes of Great Britain competed in this year’s Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race.
- Also in the Boat Race was Oliver Wynne-Griffith of Great Britain and Liam Corrigan of the United States.
- And another Boat Race competitors was Thomas George. Thomas managed to set a new World Record on the indoor rowing machine over the 5 km distance. This was in February.
- Sydney Payne of Canada needed hand surgery in January. She’s already back in the boat and training.
- Also having surgery was Brooke Mooney of the United States. The World Record holder on the indoor rower, Brooke had shoulder surgery.
- Andrea Proske of Canada had gone coaching in the Bahamas. She’s at the Nassau Rowing Club.
Onto greener pastures (or blue-er waters)
- Martin Sauer, the amazing coxswain of the German men’s eight. Martin has sat in that little coxswain seat for the German national team for over two decades. Trained as a lawyer, will we see him in court?
- Emma Dyke of New Zealand has chosen to hang up the oars.
- Richard Schmidt is one on the senior members of the German men’s eight. He’s hanging up his oars.
- It’s transition time for the Dutch. Three members of the Dutch men’s eight have hung up their oars – Robert Luecken, Mechiel Versluis and Jasper Tissen. Good luck rowers!
- One of the world’s most well-known and successful rowers, New Zealand’s Hamish Bond is retiring. But don’t be surprised if you see him popping up in another sport. Maybe car racing?!
- Shaun Kirkham of New Zealand has called it a day on rowing.
Crystal ball gazing
If you have a look at the number of retirements, there’s going to be a fair amount of rebuilding going on. But for all of the main rowing countries, there’s enough rowers remaining to form a base. So fully expect the old guard, Germany and Great Britain to come out swinging for the men. The men will also be keeping an eye on what comes out of New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand must have renewed confidence with Australia likely to be hungry for more. The United States, will be seeing what they can put together.
A similar style of rebuilding will be happening on the women’s side. Coach of the Canadian Women’s Eight, and 2021 World Rowing Coach of the Year, Michelle Darvill, has packed up her bags and headed over to the Netherlands to train their team. Canada will be hoping to continue developing their eights crew and bring in fresh blood. New Zealand will be doing something similar with both countries keeping the coxswains going for another season. The big mystery may be the United States. They will have a new coach and perhaps fresh ideas and vigour. Then there’s Romania who have had some medals in the past and will be looking for more.
Watch this space!
On the 2022 Calendar:
2022 World Rowing Cup I – Belgrade, Serbia, 27-29 May
2022 World Rowing Cup II – Poznan, Poland, 17-19 June
2022 World Rowing Cup III – Lucerne, Switzerland, 8-10 July
2022 European Rowing Championships – Munich, Germany, 11-14 August
2022 World Rowing Championships – Racice, Czech Republic, 18-25 September