Crunch Time - Olympic Semi-finals

A very slight head wind turned to a small tail wind part way through the men's singles races making race to race times difficult to compare.

Women's Single Scull – three to advance

Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany won her semifinal in Athens
© Domink Keller

Semi-final 1

Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany continued her 2004 season success by taking off at the head of the field to an open water lead with only 500 metres rowed. Starting her international rowing career as a junior in 1991 Rutschow-Stomporowski is in her thirteenth year of international rowing and this is her third Olympics. Her superiority was obvious.

The only true threat to Rutschow-Stomporowski could possibly come from Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic. The younger Knapkova is at her first Olympic Games but already she has a string of World Cup medals to her name and today she latched firmly on to second. With three boats qualifying the race was now on for the third qualifying spot and after an initial bid by Sweden's Frida Svensson, Nuria Dominguez Asensio of Spain took that position.

Meanwhile at the head of the field Rutschow-Stomporowski made it look easy and was down at a comfortable 29 strokes per minute with Knapkova remaining comfortably in second and a very happy Dominguez finishing third.

After the race Knapkova said, ''I started too fast and I began to feel tired too early. But I tried to stay focused to qualify. In the finals the medals will be hard but I'll try to do my best."

Semi-final 2

She crept, she crept, she crept and then she pounced. But let's not get ahead of the race just yet.
 
Two-time World Champion Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria was sitting comfortably in second behind two-time Olympic Champion Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus. Karsten sat just enough ahead to feel in leader control and as these two perennial rivals kept a close eye on each other, the rest of the field was left floundering in their wake.

Neykova, despite her talent, has been out of the medals all season, so today her strategy must have been to stick close to Karsten. From the two leading positions, Karsten and Neykova moved further away from all other boats. Then as the two of the world's top scullers hit the last 200 metres, Neykova pounced. Taking her rating to 41 strokes per minute, Neykova caught Karsten off guard. The Belarusian however had just enough speed to react quickly and win by a bow ball. Karsten must now be wondering, "what has Neykova got up her sleeve for the final?"

Karsten and Neykova move to the final while New Zealand's Sonia Waddell also qualifies after remaining comfortably in third for the whole race over the United States.

Men's Single Sculls – two to advance

The biggest event of this regatta, with 29 countries starting, meant only the top two would go to the final from each of the three semi-finals.

Semi-final 1

Vaclav Chalupa from Czech Republic after his semifinal in Athens
© FISA

They matched each other stroke for stroke. They remained within a bow ball of each other for three-quarters of the race. The pressure must have been intense. They were Vaclav Chalupa of the Czech Republic and Santiago Fernandez of Argentina. Coming into the final 500 metres Chalupa and Fernandez looked to be in almost perfect synchronicity mirroring each other's stroke rate at 34.

But coming into the final sprint Chalupa decided he wanted to be the clear winner. Taking advantage of his new tighter finish to his stroke, Chalupa popped his rating up to 37 and moved just enough ahead of Fernandez to win. Both scullers advance to the final with a disappointed Slovenia missing out in third.

At the end Chalupa said, "Everyone in the final could be in the first place. I knew I wanted to win this semi-final. I'm very happy."

Semi-final 2

It was quiet at the start. Very quiet. You could almost hear the aggression radiating from the big German Marcel Hacker. However, once the race got under way Hacker's face relaxed as he shot off to a fraction of a lead. But it was only a fraction. As the boats went through the first 500 metres, defending World Champion, Olaf Tufte of Norway had found the lead. It must have given the Norwegian confidence as he continued to move away to a complete boat length lead over Hacker.

With Tufte in the lead Hacker then found himself in the unusual position of trying to fend off Bulgaria's Ivo Yanakiev. Yanakiev, who only qualified for Athens at the last minute, was on fire and moving through the 1400 he had not only overtaken Hacker, but Yanakiev was moving on Tufte. Tufte, however, was on top of it and remained in first using longer, controlled strokes to keep the Bulgarian at bay. Yanakiev looked exhausted.

At the finish the shaven Tufte let out a small smile and gave the thumbs up while an exhausted Hacker slumped over his rigger. Hacker was out of the Olympic final, Yanakiev was in.

After the finish Hacker described the race, "Olaf got away and I couldn't follow him. My plan was to get in front and control the race but I didn't manage to. Now I will try to win the B-final." Hacker made his prediction for the final, "I think that Yanakiev has a chance of winning."

A very happy Yanakiev said, "I feel perfect! I knew I was in good shape, this time I want to do better (after finishing fifth in Sydney)."

Semi-final 3

The Belgian single sculler, Tim Maeyens, after his second place in the semifinal
© FISA

As the wind began to change direction, the experienced Jueri Jaanson from Estonia led the final repechage by getting out to a fast start. Jaanson continued to keep his stroke rate at a high 37 strokes per minute going through the first 500 and in the process he increased to an open water lead. Tim Maeyens of Belgium, meanwhile, had found spot number two and sat comfortably in second over Cuba's Yuleidys Cascaret Iznaga.

A procession formed with the talent range appearing to be too large for any challenges on either Jaanson or Maeyens for the qualifying positions. The two scullers crossed the line comfortably ahead of a late charge by Great Britain's Ian Lawson.

Jaanson after the finish said, "I wanted a good first half of the race and that is when the race was won for me. I don't think yet about the final, I will think about relaxing first."

Men's Pair – three to advance

Semi-final 1

The longer strokes of Croatia's Niska and Sinisa Skelin took them to an early lead as all six lanes charged out of the starting blocks. With Croatia in the lead Italy, Australia and New Zealand went neck and neck half a boat length behind the Croatians.

James Tomkins of Australia then decided that he didn't like the situation and, with a quick word back to Drew Ginn in bow seat, the Australians took off on a piece. This move that came just before the 1000 metre mark worked a treat. The experienced Australians had the lead. This left the race on for second with the Skelins, New Zealand's George Brigdewater and Nathan Twaddle and Great Britain all going for it as the Italians slipped further back.

Coming into the final sprint the Australians were not yet ready to feel too confident. Taking their rating to a 41 they kept a wary eye on New Zealand and Great Britain now rating 40 and the Croatians on 39. At the line Australia did just enough to retain first with Croatia keeping second and New Zealand remaining just in front of Great Britain to take the final qualifying spot.

Semi-final 2

Chris Jarvis and Dave Calder of Canada took an early lead over South African favourites Don Cech and Ramon di Clemente at the start of the race. Jarvis and Calder then proceeded to extend this lead going through the half way point leaving Cech and di Clemente to fight it out with a charging Tobias Kuehne and Jan Herzog of Germany with Serbia & Montenegro's Nikola Stojic and Mladen Stegic also right in the mix.

The South Africa, Serbia and Montenegro and Germany charge brought the crews level with Canada. The question now was had the Canadians gone out too hard or could they hold on?

But the action had only just begun.

The South African men's pair racing their semifinal in Athens
© Dominik Keller

Often as crews charge into the final 400 metres their tired bodies try to block out the pain and survival mode takes over. Four crews were giving it their all knowing only three spots counted. Canada, in the process, had drifted slightly into the South African's lane and a crab by di Clemente only metres before the line dropped them into fourth. Cech stuck up his hand as soon as he crossed the line to lodge a protest of Canadian interference. The official jury decision excluded the Canadian crew from the event for interference and di Clemente and Cech move on to the final. Germany and Serbia & Montenegro also qualify from first and second respectively.

The Canadians appealed their exclusion and a decision was made within two hours of the end of racing. The board of the jury confirmed that exclusion was the correct decision. Canada is now appealing to the next level – the FISA Executive Committee – who will make a decision before the final.

The Germans did not know that they had won and stroke Herzog after the race said, "We didn't know what was happening during the race. In the last 500 metres I almost died." Bow Kuehne added, "This is unbelievable, we weren't counting on winning."

Men's Double Sculls  – three to advance

Semi-final 1

Italy's Alessio Sartori and Rossano Galtarossa made no bones about their intentions right from the start getting out to a lead that extended to clear water. Boats, however, have been mowed down from this position before and the higher rating French looked like they were doing just that. Sebastien Vieilledent and Adrien Hardy of France are the current World Champions and beat the Italians at last year's World Championships.

With Vieilledent and Hardy chasing Sartori and Galtarossa, Norway's Nils-Torolv Simonsen and Morten Adamsen tucked themselves into third. A very slow starting United States crew of Aquil Abdullah and Henry Nuzum then decided to pick up the pace. Moving into the second half of the race Abdullah and Nuzum had got within striking distance of the third qualifying spot and were charging after the Norwegians. Simonsen and Adamsen were hanging on.

At the line Italy held off France to finish first. Third was awarded to the United States. This, however, was not the end. The Norwegians appealed the close finish and FISA's Executive Committee accepted the appeal and awarded a dead heat.

Both Norway and the United States advance to what will now be a seven boat final. Consequently the B-final will run with five boats.

After the race Nuzam was unaware of the dead heat decision, "We still have to concentrate. We are very inspired to be here. Our goal was to make the final."

Semi-final 2

 Iztok Cop and Luka Spik of Slovenia, the defending Olympic Champions, must have breathed a collective sigh of relief when they drew the second semi-final without the Italians. But racing had been so close lately that the duo knew not to sit on their laurels. So Cop and Spik decided to take it at the start.

Following the Slovenians out of the start was, to everyone's surprise, Leonid Gulov and Tonu Endrekson of Estonia. The Estonians had been showing their new found talent all week and they now wedged themselves firmly into second with the Czech Republic's Milan Dolecek and Ondrej Synek holding on to third. As the race moved into the second half Estonia were coming back on Slovenia with Great Britain challenging as the final 500 metres came into view.

Four boats were charging, Cop and Spik at a 40, Dolecek and Synek at 42, Gulov and Endrekson at 36 and the Brits at a 44. Great Britain was unlucky. Slovenia, Estonia and the Czech Republic move on to the final.

Gulov after the finish admitted, "Something was bothering me during the race. The rhythm wasn't the same. We didn't expect to have such a good start."

Men's four semifinal at Schinias on Wednesday 18 August
© Getty Images/Ben Radford

Men's Four – three to advance

Semi-final 1

Sitting comparatively upright to their recent racing style, the Canadian World Champions did not take long to get into the position they love – the lead. Behind them it was no surprise to see Australia and Germany as the chasing crews.

As Canada continued to lead and Australia and Germany tussled, a new challenge was developing over in lane 5. Well within the third 500 Italy had taken their rating up to 40 strokes per minute, had overtaken Germany and were now going after Australia. Australia was now under threat for second. This charge had forced Australia's stroke David Dennis to take the rating to 42 and in the process the clear water lead by the Canadians had all but been shattered.

At the line Canada had held on, Australia got second and the Italians a well deserved third.

Two seat for Canada, Thomas Herschmiller said after the race, "We got into the lead in the first stroke. That is what we wanted."

Stroke for Canada, Barney Williams added, "We are confident that we are the best crew out there."

Matthew Pinsent after winning his semifinal in Athens
© FISA

Semi-final 2

Great Britain's race plan seems to be all about getting the early lead and sitting on the field. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent in stroke did just that. By the first 500 metres Pinsent had his crew in the position that they love best, a solid lead. Pinsent then left the rest of the field to fight it out for second. Three boats wanted it. New Zealand, Slovenia and Poland were all there and as the Brits moved further ahead the fight for second continued.

Going through the 1000 New Zealand had found a gap and rating a strong 36 strokes per minute the young crew kept their whits about them. Poland came after the New Zealanders and in the final sprint a photo finish had New Zealand with the edge. Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland move on to the final.

After the finish Pinsent commented that the potential medal winning boats were not in his race, "When I saw the start list we probably had the easy side of the draw. We went out and made it easy for ourselves."