“New concept” for German men’s eight as Olympics loom

So when the German men’s eight finished fifth at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup, the federation decided everything was not going well.

Rather than make a few small changes German Rowing decided to turn the eight upside-down and start again promising a new concept. At the start of the season the aim was to get a good mix of experience and new power in the eight. This led to a boat selection based partly on the past experience of the athletes. The new concept and, thus, the new team is based solely on the results of pairs racing in April. Six crew members have been changed.

Coach of the men’s eight, Dieter Grahn has been replaced by assistant coach Christian Viedt. Grahn will remain involved in the overall men’s sweep rowing programme.

These changes have caused much discussion in the German press. Former Olympic medallist for Germany’s eight and former IOC athletes commission member, Roland Baar is cited in a couple of newspapers saying, "So shortly before the Olympic Games another compromise solution won't bring the necessary success in Beijing. The old crew has been developed over years. They can depend on each other and have proven to be able to show their full potential at the climax of the season. Certainly also a young crew has got its potential, but it would be much too uncertain to only depend on that."

German Rowing Federation president, Siegfried Kaidel commented, "We need to act now. The eight is our prestige boat and hasn't gotten the right speed yet this year."

Sebastian Schulte, who was in the eight for the Lucerne Rowing World Cup as well as last year’s World Championships said, "We think it is a mistake to give up on all of the experienced athletes so shortly before the Olympics."

The new eight includes Matthias Flach, Florian Mennigen, Jochen Urban, Andreas Penkner, Florian Eichner, Philipp Naruhn, Kristof Wilke and Sebastian Schmidt with coxswain Peter Theide. Only Schmidt and Urban remain from the eight that raced at Lucerne and only Florian Eichner remains from last year’s silver medal winning eight. Coxwain, Theide remains the same.

The women’s sculling squad is also striking decision-making time. For the first time ever Germany is not sending a woman single sculler to the Olympic Games. Women’s sculling coach Jutta Lau commented, “With the current level of performance in that event we wouldn't have any chance to make the final. We'll concentrate our power on the quad and double." Olympic chances are thus over for current spare, Susanne Schmidt.

In the women’s sweep squad Maren Derlin and Lenka Wech will double up and row in both the women’s pair and women’s eight at the Beijing Olympics.

The Olympic team will be named on 23 June after the Poznan Rowing World Cup but the federation has the ability to make changes up until 15 July
.