World Rowing E-Magazine, December 2008

Home , Adam Korol, Adam Kreek, Andrew Byrnes, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Ben Rutledge, Brian Price (rowing)

GRAINGERZHANG Katherine, Yangyang,BEARE Jon,Bartlomiej, VERNONOPPELT LEWIS EBBESEN Mike, BERNATAJTYSAnnie, Britta,JOERGENSEN PARSONS FLOOD Eskild LUTZEHANSEN Debbie, Balschmidt, Milosz,Liam, Vasileios,HOUGHTON Manuela,Morten,Rasmus TANG RANDA MOUGIOS RASMUSSEN PAWLOWSKI Bin,ANDERSENNicholai BORON Pawel,Frances, PURCHASE JIN Dimitrios, Ziwei, Tracy, BRAMBELL Quist, Mads Kathrin,CAMERON POLYMEROS XIMads Reinholdt,Lukasz, Aihua, EBERT Zac,Iain, SCHILLERChristian HUNTER PAWELCZAK Thomas, Kruse, Mark,

Melanie,

, RYAN , Matt, RYAN

ALDER David,

Francis, DESPRES

BOTHAM Stephen,

, WU You, , WUGAOYulan, You,

d, d, BRENNAN Scott,

FTE Olaf, SYNEK Ondrej, SYNEK Ondrej, Olaf, FTE

N Minna, KOK

atrin, HUTH Christiane,

RTELETTEDorian, vander

George, EVERS-SWINDELL

Stephanie, Issue 7 – December 2008

KOLK KOLK Kirsten, van EUPEN Marit, STEN Sanna, NIEMINE

Julien, RONDEAU Benjamin, Julien,RONDEAU CHARDIN Germain, MO

MARBURG James, McKENZIE-McHARG Cameron, HEGERTY

JAMES Tom, WILLIAMSJAMES Tom, Steve, REED TRIGGS Pete, HODGE Andrew

ENDREKSON Tonu, JAANSON Juri, WELLS Matthew, ROW

LAVERICK LAVERICK Elise, BEBINGTON Anna, CRAWSHAY Davi

Georgina, EVERS-SWINDELL Caroline, THIELE Annek

FRANDSEN Scott, TWADDLE Nathan, BRIDGEWATER

BICHYK Yuliya, HELAKH Natallia, GINN Drew, FREE Duncan, C

DRYSDALE Mahe, ANDRUNACHE Georgeta, SUSANU Viorica LEWSKI Ko NEYKOVA Rumyana, GUERETTE Michelle, KARSTEN Ekaterina, TU Ekaterina, KARSTEN Michelle, GUERETTE Rumyana, NEYKOVA ASIE nrad , W , KO lien RREST Cedric, CA LB Ju , BE FAR O N lies GMA N O W AI ar a, KIN ienk Er IC H M ric e, R in Z A S Vio ERBAN Ro EP , S M B R U a, S dic EL H a , E N len a A O r n D A E LIGHT Kev M E e a L S U le, in, ar R O k e U U C Ky R ia v P , J S S PRICE Bria U , a J - M , E N att, n, P TL B n L E e S ta G O M A E A D in L r LT MITH R D I r , n R I GE tt, S Co TR R R d N e e a O ya lin I G A I s i k t E M ID , D E E a S P s A R W AL N G B L K n G . W SH B A y m H G N us Da E E R , I R e o , c n T e , N E r i A S o G M E F C a L a e H n I l l l O A L , E e E i n m M C , n i T R A i L x n c a , A Y O R B O L , e h E C o r E C i E i I d , P S Y k , D K a D a N O P h P T R v C A t o l A K , N O A a , s a T R N , E T E n L K K a c L n L T l i M U A E E O L D H A E a R

B A

L A ,

N U

M A

E R

h A

, U

E y

r E

R c A

G S

r n

T e I

c a e D

K a t

n n L

v ,

r s

M , T

a d

E o C

n t

O ,

i J

H L

, e e

E L

N E

i O

L m a w

n ,

r M K O t

P L

P P

a W

e N

o ,

N H

M C

H N

o E D Y

s N

W T O s G V

a L

E E

J L

k , i

T R

e L ,

u i m k O

E C e

N E

H C

A r E

m I W

T d

r N

i e

h A

N i

n t

m n

R m

, i

O o

A P W D

A a E

D E N I

N P

A N

I R

a OUR HEROES H

i I

t S E

r n

H a C

e u

A e N

c ,

e ,

a A

a n n

r G

, L

A R R A e

o V

E a

a I

C N E

I s

A L

R n s u a s

S n S e O ,

R G A A T

In this issue L

EDITORIAL 3 Eight years on – being Sir Steve 4 Calm energy – Michelle Guerette 6 Double or nothing 8 Meet the 2008 OLYMPIC Champions 10 The Great Dane 14 Assessing their Beijing performance 16 Predicting Beijing results: can you foretell the finish? 18 ROWING’S ANSWER TO MICHAEL PHELPS 20 The aging Olympian debate 22 The Olympic Fan Experience 25 In your words... 27 Meet the 2008 Paralympic Champions 29 Storming into the Paralympic Games 30 Great Britain’s Paralympic rowing success 31 Tom Aggar – Paralympic Champion 32 Understanding Olaf 33 The Olympic Games and developing countries 35 www.tempo-tech.com © FISA Editorial 2008before and beyond the Olympics 3 2008 was a year of firsts: the first time 100 nations took part in the Olympic qualification process, the first time a world-class rowing regatta was held in China, the first time China won an Olympic gold medal in rowing and the first time rowing Jean-Christophe Rolland (FRA) crowned Paralympic Champions.

But 2008 also saw repeat performances, with video streaming or online social networks, Our heroes are those Olympians and coaches our rowing greats winning their second, third, rowing enthusiasts have provided support who have committed themselves entirely to fourth or even fifth Olympic gold medals. and motivation to the athletes they admire, their Olympic dreams – the dreams of going Increasingly, our heroes are staying at their encouraging them to achieve their bests. faster, but also the dreams of competing for peak longer than those in past years and the simple joy of it, whether winning a medal, decades. Although our sport does not allow Some nations left Beijing delighted with their reaching the podium or just getting there. rowers to win as many Olympic medals as in rowing performance, while others left hoping As Pierre de Coubertin said: “The important other sports at the Games, such as Michael to have achieved more. This is competition. thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not Phelps in swimming, rowing can boast Many challenges still remain in the area of to have vanquished but to have fought well.” exceptional athletes who keep on winning rowing development worldwide, but overall, This issue of World Rowing e-Magazine is again and again over years and years of our sport has developed at the Olympic dedicated to those who had the dreams and competition. level in a larger number of countries than did everything possible to achieve them. ever before and, as you will read from Thor Supporter circles around the world have found Nilsen, the technical level is higher. Rowing Jean-Christophe Rolland new ways to cheer their sporting heroes on. Federations are now once again making their Chair of FISA’s Athletes Commission Whether through television or telephone or plans and checking them twice, this time newer means of communication such as live with their focus set on London’s 2012. Heroes of the past

British Olympic Champion Steve Redgrave celebrates winning his third Olympic gold Eight years on medal at the 1992 Olympic Steve Redgrave of Great Britain Games in Banyoles, Spain. with his five Olympic gold medals. – being Sir Steve The name is synonymous with rowing. No other rower has come close to his celebrity status. He is a brand himself. He is Sir Steve Redgrave.

4 In a sport that shies away from big names company employees. He is a personality, and big personalities, Redgrave is unique. His a celebrity. status is well-deserved. During Redgrave’s rowing career he not only picked up nine Redgrave stepped out of the rowing boat on World Championship titles, but his run of the 23rd of September 2000 and did not put five consecutive Olympic gold medals isa a foot back in for over a year. It took a beer- feat that has been achieved by less than a charged evening and the much younger handful of athletes in the entire history of the Olympic Champion Ben Hunt-Davis to talk Olympic Games. Redgrave back into a boat. The two, both retired, started going out in a pair together – The fifth Olympic gold medal is now rowing at a time that they knew they would eight years in the past and since then not be spotted by the national team – but Sir Steve Redgrave has not slowed down. Redgrave soon persuaded Hunt-Davis to He has fundraised £5 million (7.8 USD) in skip the rowing and instead enjoy a social five years for charity. He has mentored barbecue. athletes not just from rowing, but from a number of different sports. He regularly gets A five-year rowing hiatus followed. Then asked by political parties for advice on top Martin Cross came knocking. Redgrave had level sports. He has three marathons under won his first Olympic gold in a four with Cross his belt and a knighthood before his name. at the 1984 Olympics. Cross was putting He has his own line of casual clothing (FiveG) together a crew for the Henley Veteran and a brand of drink (The Juice Doctor). He Regatta. “He caught me at a weak moment,” © CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images© CHRISTOPHE

says there was already talk of Cracknell and Looking back Redgrave talks about the Pinsent returning to a four. Redgrave admits, double-edged sword of being an athlete. “I seriously thought about giving it a go.” Retiring meant having some flexibility with Redgrave was serious enough that he talked his time. As an athlete Redgrave never took it over with his former coach and Great a break from the sport. He was given three Britain’s current head coach, Juergen Grobler. weeks every year after the World Rowing “We both decided it wasn’t a wise thing to Championships or Olympic Games. Now, 5 do. This is the only time that I have had any Redgrave says, he can enjoy some flexibility inclination to come out of retirement.” around his work and when he chooses to take time off. But Redgrave says he misses Retirement, says Redgrave, did not come the routine of his former life. “The grass isn’t easily. He had spent 25-plus years solely always greener on the other side,” he admits. rowing and earning close to no money. Redgrave had to start his post-rowing In retrospect Redgrave concludes that it career from scratch and he says he started takes about four years to get rowing out off with a vague idea of finding some kind of your system. Redgrave reflected on this of business. But instead, the work came to as he attended the Beijing Olympics as a him and it came thick and fast. Redgrave was rowing expert and media specialist. It was in huge demand as a motivational speaker, his second Olympics that he had attended especially by companies wanting to inspire as a non-competitor. “I was with Matthew their employees. He also got asked to do (Pinsent) and I said, ‘Now you know what it media work and had a biography nearing feels like four years on’.” Pinsent, a four-time completion. Olympic gold medallist, was going through © 2002 Getty Images/Christopher Lee the feelings that come with being at his first Only once has Redgrave had a twinge to come “For the first 18 months following Sydney I Olympics as a non-competitor. “You need Sir Steve Redgrave posing out of retirement. It happened in 2003 after was very busy,” says Redgrave. He still finds it four years to get it out of your system,” says beside a sculpture of himself his former teammates James Cracknell and hard to really describe what kind of business Redgrave. “Eight years on you definitely have at the River and Rowing Matthew Pinsent came fourth in the men’s pair he does. “I guess you’d call me a personality, closure.” Museum in Henley-on-Thames, at the World Rowing Championships. Within a celebrity of some sorts.” Eight years on, the Great Britain. 10 minutes of the race finishing, Redgrave work continues to flow in. ■ M. S. B. Top Rowers Calm energy – Michelle Guerette “She’s very competitive and I wanted Michelle to think about rowing on a normal day,” says Butt, “not about the big Olympians in the next lane. The idea was to focus her in a different Michelle Guerette on the banks of kind of way.” the Charles River in Boston, USA. Butt came to be Guerette’s coach after watching her scull and noting her speed 6 and strength especially at lower ratings. After Guerette returned from the Athens Olympics, where she had raced in the quad,

© Igor Meijer Butt approached her. “I asked if I could work with her,” says Butt, who had been coaching On the Shunyi Olympic regatta course I kept trying to add more but, of course, at that the lightweight men’s double and men’s pair at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, point it was also a battle to hold on.” at the Athens Olympics. Michelle Guerette of the United States had come out of the starting blocks in Guerette crossed the line to become the first Butt knows that single scullers can be unique the women’s single sculls Final near the American woman to medal in this event at individuals and he describes Guerette as: “As back of the field. She was not a the Olympics in two decades. She had won well collected as anyone I’ve met before a race. favourite to win, perhaps not even to silver, finishing just half a second behind She achieves degrees of calm on her own.” medal, and going through the half-way winner, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria. point in fifth position certainly put Guerette started out her sporting life playing doubt on her podium chances. “Just before Michelle got onto the water tennis. At university, in 1998, she picked up for the Final,” says Butt, “I pinned a note into rowing as a way to meet new people and get a “At that point,” Guerette describes, “things her boat near her feet.” The note reminded bit of exercise. From early on Guerette showed began to change. I felt so much emotion in Guerette of her training partners, local rowers talent. “I realised my potential as a rower when the last 500m – Charley [coach Charley Butt] from Guerette’s club in Boston, Aleks Zosuls it came to erg tests. I had good scores from the and I had talked about sprinting all year. I was and Adam Holland. Zosuls had pushed beginning though I was not very aerobically fit,” confident that I could push into third [position]. Guerette in the longer, 10-minute pieces and says Guerette. She made the under-23 national When second came, I thought to first. That was Holland had worked Guerette in the sprint team two years later and has been on the US almost alarming - to know it was within reach. and race training. national team ever since. >> Top Rowers

Michelle Guerette Like all American university rowers, sweep has watched Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski four years has been different - certainly my (USA) rowing was de rigueur and Guerette was (GER) race to gold in Athens more times than concept of volume has changed. I remember part of the large squad of sweep rowers she can count. She admires Mahe Drysdale’s when 12km felt like a long row.” competing to be in the Olympic eight. At the (NZL) consistency and professionalism as a end of 2003 she was moved to a quad sculling competitor, citing his 2006 World Champion The post-Beijing reception back in the United group. “Sculling was much more comfortable performance as tremendous. Americans States was more than Guerette expected. for me than sweeping. I did, however, have Steve Tucker and team-mate Caryn Davies “Everyone was curious about the Games mixed feelings because I knew there was not also have gained Guerette’s admiration. and China. Our team made several television much time to make the change, but I also was appearances. We were even on the Oprah 7 aware it was a better match.” Guerette made Winfrey Show. But the nicest was returning the cut and raced at the Athens Olympics in “The race was a tunnel, to my hometown. My family, most of whom the women’s quad, finishing fifth. did not travel to Beijing, were so excited, or with the noise of the maybe they just wanted to know if I’d met After Athens, Guerette started rowing the Michael Phelps.” single out of necessity. “I was working full- crowd closing in and the time and the single was a good way to finish line approaching.” Guerette is suitably reserved about her future continue training on my own. It was for fun rowing intentions. “I remember reading about at first but as the year progressed I did get – Michelle Guerette, Sir Steve Redgrave having retired multiple curious about the possibility of racing it times. That makes sense to me. I think you internationally.” 16 August 2008 need to step away for a little while if you want to have passion for the next round.” Guerette Just a short year later Guerette lined up at the is also aware that sculling in the USA is going Gifu 2005 World Rowing Championships in With Charley Butt as her coach, Guerette says to continue to improve especially now that the single. She finished third. “It was surprising,” the lead up to Beijing was quite different all national team rowers are expected to says Guerette. “I hadn’t raced internationally from her pre-Athens preparation. “After learn to scull. that year until the Worlds. The few months Athens, I felt that more mastery on my part before Gifu were a very big push and I was would have helped us. I was strong and fit But Guerette owns up: “I know it would be nervous. I was realistic, but hopeful as well.” but, in retrospect, not skilled or comfortable very hard to watch everyone line up at the enough. Beijing was different. I felt like I had Worlds from my computer screen.” With her new-found skill in the single Guerette the opportunity to make my rowing fast looked to other rowers for inspiration. She and controlled. The training over the past ■ M. S. B. © Igor Meijer Top Rowers Double or nothing “When I line up, I’m not there to win. ”Up until then [2007], I was racing to get onto I’m there to wipe the floor.” the national team. This time I had the specific aim of getting into the double with Scott and In the aftermath of Athens, Scott Brennan racing in Beijing,” says Crawshay. ”That’s what wrote a note to himself. Next time would be it was going to be.” different. For himself and double sculls 8 partner David Crawshay, Beijing was to After a successful domestic campaign, Brennan remedy the disappointment of their Olympic and Crawshay gained selection as Australia’s debut where they finished seventh in the double scull, in 2007. Finishing eighth at the quad – and it did. In resounding fashion, the World Championships, they qualified the boat Australians blitzed the men’s double sculls for Beijing. Despite missing the A Final by field, leading all the way, to claim Olympic 0.49 seconds, the pair relished the tight racing. gold ahead of Estonia and Great Britain. ”If someone asks why you race, it is for that ”Beijing wasn’t a clean slate. I wanted to tight, competitive atmosphere. It’s challenging, ”They should have had a gold medal in 2004 remember what I felt before as inspiration to but it’s really enjoyable,” says Brennan. [in the quadruple sculls]. They won the pre- make sure we did things properly this time,” Olympic Regatta in Lucerne by two lengths. © 2008 FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images says Brennan, 25, from Tasmania. However, in the mind of Coach Rhett Ayliffe, They killed everybody.” the crew had the potential to blow the field ”After Athens I couldn’t handle just going to open. Brennan was the under-23 World ”They had the potential to do what they did the Olympic Games. I wanted to race with Champion in the single sculls, in 2003. this time, last time.” the best guy, with the best chance. It was the Meanwhile, Crawshay had been Australia’s double or nothing.’” premier sculler of the last Olympiad. Open, honest communication between coach and crew, was how this potential was realised. Crawshay shared this sentiment. The 29-year-old ”It was a close event, because no one was Australia’s David Crawshay (l) Victorian admitted his first Olympic experience dominating it. I had a crew that could,” says ”Scott’s got a relentless attitude to making and Scott Brennan celebrate caused him great angst. Training together from Ayliffe, an Australian representative in the changes. I thought he was just grumpy,” says their gold medal during the late 2006 – prior to national team selections – men’s double sculls at the 1995 World Rowing Crawshay. ”Instead I was possibly too nice. medal ceremony at the 2008 the duo committed themselves to the double. Championships, in Finland. I had to learn not to sugarcoat things.” >> Olympic Games in Beijing. Top Rowers

Brennan’s fastidious approach helped ”We wanted to commit to the first thousand Crawshay reflected on the importance of David Crawshay (b) and condition his partner for the rigours of metres. We knew we were efficient and had their victory to others. Scott Brennan (s) celebrate their Olympic competition. good speed. My only concern was that they’d victory in the men’s double overdone it,” says Ayliffe, who was coaching ”The best motivation to do anything is for sculls at the 2008 Olympic ”Personal feelings aside, the gold medal is at his first Olympics. yourself. But you see the effect it has on those Games in Beijing, China. what we wanted,” says Brennan. ”As long as close to you – especially your family, friends we commented on something relevant, you However, inside the boat, the double was – it does add a new dimension. Maybe you’re could never take it personally.” flowing and feeling good. not just rowing for yourself?”

With this uncompromising ethic, the double ”At 1000m, I knew we were going to win,” says In the short-term, the duo will switch focus to would race at Shunyi’s Olympic Rowing Park Brennan. ”We had done it so efficiently and their professional lives. In January, Brennan, 9 on their own terms. Despite Brennan recover knew we had so much left. I just couldn’t see a qualified doctor, will commence work at ing from a respiratory infection that hampered us losing.’” a Tasmanian hospital. Crawshay will likely his heat performance, the double had no return to a position as a Liberal Party staffer intention of holding back. And they didn’t. Crossing the line, Crawshay in Melbourne. However, London 2012 is not was lost for words. far from their minds.

”All I could do was shout. It was almost comical ”I’d love to go on to London, but you realise in a way. But that was the initial ecstasy of the motivation has to be different. That’s going it all.” to be a great challenge,” says Crawshay.

For Brennan, the victory lifted an If Brennan and Crawshay do reunite, the emotional burden that had lingered rowing world should brace itself. Coach since the Athens Games. Ayliffe believes there’s much improvement to come. ”To actually hold the gold medal in your hand – it ”That crew can go faster. They should have was tangible. All the won by the margin they had at the 500m emotions that I had mark. They’re still learning about the double.” carried for four years © 2008 Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty© 2008 Images were represented in that ■ Tom Nickson medal. They were no longer a part of me.” LW2x At the 2004 Athens Games, Kirsten van der Kolk (l) and © 2008 Getty Images Meet the 2008 OLYMPIC Champions Marit van Eupen of the Netherlands won bronze. During the following three years, van der Kolk became a mother

© 2008 Getty Images and van Eupen competed in the lightweight single. The duo Andrew Triggs Hodge (l), Tom James, Steve Williams and Pete Reed (r) perpetuated Great Britain’s came back together again in the lead up to Beijing with the legacy in the men’s four, following in the footsteps of previous British champions in this boat aim of winning the Olympic title - they did so with golden class Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell. shoes in their boat.

M4-

Australian fans in the grandstands at the 2008 Olympic Games 10 in Beijing, China.

Reigning Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion Drew Ginn (l) of Australia won his third Olympic gold medal with new partner in the men’s pair, Duncan Free.

© Detlev Seyb © 2008 Getty Images M ee t t t Italy and France. Beijing they confirmedtheir supremacy and won gold ahead of yearevery since and anew 2005 World In Time set in 2006. Best and Adam Korol (l) had won theWorld Rowing Championships Poland’s Konrad Wasielewski (r), Marek Kolbowicz, Michal Jelinski he 2008

M4x yet again? The answer was yes. claim thetitleofOlympic Champion ofNewZealand and Mahe Drysdale to challengetriple World Champion wouldmedal collection, hemanage Olympic silver andgoldalready in his whenitcounts.to perform With Olaf Tufte knows how ofNorway OL YMP I C C C h a mp io n s M1x

In the Olympic Final, China Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. China who won the 2008 Champions Great Britain and © 2008 Getty Images Getty 2008 © between three-time World impressively moved up from sculls was a face-off third to overtake the British crew. The women’s quadruple Bin Tang (b), Ziwei Jin, Aihua Xi

and Yangyang Zhang (s) won their nation’s first-ever Olympic gold

4x W

M4- L Eskild Ebbesen retired in 2004 after winning after Olympic retired in 2004 Ebbesen goldEskild number in Denmark’s two Guldfireren. legendary In 2007, at age 35, he came back to therowing scene his with eyes set on Beijing.set We’re sure when he had he and no regrets crewmates Thomas Ebert, Morten Joergensen Morten and crewmates Thomas Ebert, Mads Kruse Andersen crossed theline Andersen crossed Mads first. Kruse

11 W8+ Meet the 2008 OLYMPIC Champions Zac Purchase (r) and Mark Hunter dominated the Romania owned this event at lightweight men’s double sculls during the 2008 Rowing the past three Olympic Games. World Cup series and went on to win Great Britain’s second In Beijing, two-time World Olympic gold medal in rowing in Beijing. Champions the USA won their heat, as did reigning Olympic Champions Romania. But the LM2x USA dominated the Final from start to finish, with gold going to crewmembers Erin Cafaro (b), Lindsay Shoop, Anna Goodale, 12 Eleanor Logan, Anna Cummins, Zsuzsanna Francia, Caroline Lind, Caryn Davies (s) and © 2008 Getty Images Mary Whipple (c). Romania took bronze, the Netherlands silver. W1x

Canada broke the curse that seemed to limit the performance of reigning World Champions in the Bulgaria’s Rumyana Neykova men’s eight at the Olympic Games. Kevin Light (b), Ben Rutledge, Andrew Byrnes, Jake Wetzel, had been waiting for this Malcolm Howard, Dominic Seiterle, Adam Kreek, Kyle Hamilton (s) and Brian Price (c) secured moment ever since she first Olympic gold after winning World Championship gold in 2007. won silver at the 2000 Sydney Games. In 2004, she won Olympic bronze. In Beijing, Neykova got the better of archrival and two-time Olympic Champion Ekaterina Karsten, winning her long-awaited Olympic gold medal. © 2008 AFP

Meet the 2008 OLYMPIC Champions Caroline Evers-Swindell from © Igor Meijer New Zealand were the reigning Olympic Champions and had three World Championship golds to their credit, but mixed results over the past three years meant that a gold medal performance in Beijing was uncertain. The Evers-Swindells managed an amazing comeback and took gold in one of the most spectacular finishes of the 2008 Olympic Rowing Regatta - winning ahead of Germany by 1/100th 13 of a second.

Romania’s Georgeta Andrunache -Damian (l) made history by becoming one of rowing’s

© Detlev Seyb Slovenian fans in the grandstands most medalled Olympic athletes in Beijing. Winning her fifth Olympic gold medal in at the 2008 Olympic Games in the women’s pair with crewmate Viorica Susanu (who won her fourth Olympic gold), Beijing, China. Andrunache equalled the feat of Elisabeta Lipa (ROU) and Steve Redgrave (GBR).

Australia’s David Crawshay (l) They did so in style, and Scott Brennan won what dominating the Final from

Cameras and the media bustle around athletes at the Olympic Games. Coaches remain relatively hidden. In a private room above the boathouse at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing Park, Coach Bent Jensen was dealing with more than nervous athlete issues. © Iain Brambell

14 Bent Jensen with his Olympic Jensen is best known for his ability to make Competing on the international circuit, This attitude meant the athletes were bronze medallist crew of Iain lightweight men row fast, most notably Danish Brambell says he got to know some of the relatively unaware of how Jensen was doing. Brambell, Jon Beare, Mike lightweight men. Since moving to Canada in athletes he rowed against but rarely got to “None of us could comprehend how serous Lewis and Daniel Parsons. 2006, Jensen continued to make lightweight know other coaches. Brambell, however, had his illness was,” says Brambell. men go fast but there was a new angle to his a feel for Jensen. “Bent was always there with coaching style. Jensen had cancer. his athletes. He didn’t know much English, “All of the way through (cancer treatment) but he always said ‘hello’ to us.” Bent never took time away really,” says Canadian lightweight rower Iain Brambell and Brambell. “If he did we knew it was serious.” crewmate Jon Beare had retired from rowing He’d literally be confined Jensen went so far as to plan the training after the Athens Olympics. Veterans of the programme around his treatments. “Bent lightweight four at two Olympic Games, they to his room and we’d still find would come out with us for the morning wanted to work with Jensen. “He was 100 per row. He’d then go to chemo and return the cent the reason both of us came back,” says just as much inspiration. next morning,” describes Brambell. Jensen Brambell. “This was an opportunity to be part would then time his post-treatment recovery of Bent’s programme.” In Canada, Brambell got to know Jensen as for when the crew was not on the water. a coach. “It didn’t matter how stressful or Brambell and Beare had been rowing against difficult the training was, Bent was always Jensen, now 60 years old, started treatment Jensen’s Danish crews for years. “We had heard relaxed. He made things fun. Even though for a second time in the middle of 2008. stories about how the Danes trained,” says he was battling with cancer, no matter how This did not stop him from persisting with Brambell. “We were rowing two to three times difficult it was for him, he always kept his his coaching programme almost as normal. a day, six days a week while the Danes had full- sense of humour.” The lightweight men’s four had qualified for time jobs and didn’t row if the water was bad.” Beijing and, after finishing fourth at the >> Features

2007 World Rowing Championships, medal where they would describe the session to “The incredible part about Bent is he’s there chances at the Olympics were looking good. their coach. to make you a good athlete and a good person,” says Brambell. “He wants you there While in Beijing, Jensen’s treatment continu “He’d literally be confined to his room,” says 100 per cent for rowing but he also prepares 2004 Olympic Champions, the ed. Brambell describes that Jensen started off Brambell, “and we’d still find just as much you for life after rowing.” Danish lightweight men’s four by coming to the boathouse at the Shunyi inspiration.” of Eskild Ebbesen, Stephan Olympic regatta course and he would follow “The way in which Bent continues to battle Moelvig, Thomas Ebert and Thor the crew on his bike. But then the first treat For a full decade Jensen was the coach be his illness has most certainly had a profound Kristensen. ment set him back. So the crew would do their hind Denmark’s rowing hero, Eskild Ebbesen. impact on my perspective on rowing,” says training session and then go to Jensen’s hotel Ebbesen was part of Denmark’s lightweight Brambell. “However, long before Bent became room afterwards four, Guldfireren, who dominated the event ill he, as a person, changed my perspective on 15 internationally from their win at the 1996 life and as a coach he most certainly changed Olympic Games through to gold again in my perspective on rowing. All for the better!” 2004. Jensen was unable to make it to the rowing Ebbesen describes Jensen, “He knows what course for the Olympic Finals, but Brambell to say to make the boat go faster. He just sees says it did not prevent his influence and it without having to analyse it. Also he is good inspiration being felt. “He taught us everything at making people feel comfortable on a team. we needed to know before we left Canada,” He has good humour and knows when his says Brambell. “Someone in the boat would rowers are not all right.” remember something Bent had said.” © Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images “Bent is good at giving The lightweight men’s four Final at the Beijing the rowers a lot of Olympics had both Jensen’s former crew responsibility them Denmark and his current Canadian crew selves. He is not the racing. At the finish line both crews medalled. type who thinks he A fitting tribute to coach Bent Jensen. has to be there every ■ M.S.B. time to make the team hard enough. As we went to print we regret to say Bent passed He makes a team away on 9 December 2008 after his fight with that wants to win.” pancreatic cancer. Features ASSESSING THEIR BEIJING PERFORMANCE

Great Britain topped the rowing medals table in Beijing. With Can a nation’s performance be assessed solely on the basis of medal count? two gold, two silver and two bronze medals, they amassed their Looking back on the 2008 Olympic Games, World Rowing assesses a handful of highest medal tally since the 1908 Games. They have reason countries that have just experienced their best Games and others that enjoyed to be proud. more satisfying results at previous Games. What hides behind the numbers? What should be expected in the future? 16 BULGARIA

Réécrire comme suit: All Bulgarian eyes turned CHINA to rowing when fellow citizen Rumyana Neykova became Bulgaria’s only Olympic Champion at the 2008 Host nation China topped the overall medal table at the Games. She won gold in the women’s single sculls at Shunyi 2008 Olympic Games with 51 gold medals. In rowing, however, Olympic Rowing Park. Bulgaria had last won Olympic gold in China might have hoped for more. The results of its crews over the rowing over 30 years ago at the Montreal Games in 1976. “Rumyana’s past few years were at times brilliant, showing the country’s determination gold medal will have an impact on rowing in Bulgaria,” says Bulgarian to collect as many Olympic medals as possible in a sport which had not received Rowing Federation President Svetla Otzetova. “The sport will be better much attention previously, and at other times inconsistent. China, however, finished supported by the government, and its popularity has substantially the Olympic Rowing Regatta with the satisfaction of having won its first ever Olympic increased.” As for the future development of the sport in rowing gold, thanks to its women’s quadruple sculls crew, as well as an Olympic silver. “I am Bulgaria, Otzetova says: “We are now looking for very excited and proud about the first gold medal that the Chinese rowing team won at talent at the junior level and trying to keep the Olympic Games. We were waiting for this gold medal for 20 years!” says Zhang Qing, Vice- them through to the under-23 level. If President of the Chinese Rowing Association. “For many years, various Chinese clubs have been you don’t support rowers financially recruiting a lot of foreign coaches and technicians to work with the local people. Due to our past they will leave the sport. Now we achievements in women’s rowing, we will certainly continue have the finances to support to attach big importance to female competitive rowing,” both the rowers and says Qing. “This is why our team has had good results

y t

t Italia

Features e

G ITALY

Suomen tasavalta © Italy has seen more successful Olympic years, FINLAND winning only one medal – silver – in Beijing. But Michele de Lauretis, Secretary General of the More than 20 years have gone by since Finland won an Olympic medal in rowing, back in the Italian rowing federation, does not complain: days of legendary single sculler Pertti Karpinnen. In Beijing, Sanna Sten and Minna Nieminen “I know how difficult it is to get a medal at the put an end to their nation’s Olympic rowing medal drought, grabbing silver in the lightweight Olympics, so I am very happy for the success of

women’s double. “The National Olympic Committee has been intensively involved in our Galtarossa and company in the men’s quadruple © 2008 Getty Images Beijing 2008 lightweight women’s double project since 2004,” says Marleena Valtasola, sculls,” he says. “The Olympic Games are really different member of the Finnish Rowing Federation Executive Committee. “Currently it from the Rowing World Cup series and World Rowing seems that the support for rowing will grow. The additional financial support Championships. In Athens we won three bronze medals will hopefully focus especially on coaching.” For London 2012, Finnish and everyone within the rowing movement was unhappy; rowing is planning to involve other promising athletes, although in Beijing we won one silver and we have the same 17 Sten and Nieminen will remain the core of the team. situation, but this time some rowers are satisfied and others not.” Polska Česká republika that it was possible CZECH REPUBLIC POLAND to reach the highest goals.

s e Competitors began to believe in g a m In Beijing, the Czech Republic grabbed I The 2008 themselves more. Everyone wanted y tt e its second ever Olympic medal in rowing. Both G Olympic to equal Sycz and Kucharski,” explains 8 00 2 of the medals were silver. Four of the six Czech crews © R o w i n g Stadniuk. The men’s quadruple sculls became competing in Beijing qualified for the Olympic Final. “Our Regatta was their successors in Beijing. results are the product of patient and systematic work. But the most successful we expected more!” says Czech Head Coach Premysl that Poland has ever experienced. With silver added to Looking to London 2012, Poland is aiming to reach Panuska. Czech rowing has yet to earn Olympic gold and gold, Beijing was one step up from Sydney and Athens. new heights in women’s rowing. “We’ve never won the aim to do so in London drives single scullers Mirka This breakthrough did not happen overnight. “At the Games an Olympic medal in women’s rowing,” says Stadniuk. Knapkova and Ondrej Synek on. In view of the preceding Sydney, Poland had won a total of 11 Olympic “We have a rowing programme aimed at increasing next Olympics, Czech rowing is also seeking medals, but never gold. It was a psychological barrier that was female rower representation at the London Games to further develop its male sculling very difficult to overcome,” says Richard Stadniuk, president of the and winning a medal there in a female boat class.” crews – this has become the Polish Rowing Federation. “Sycz and Kucharski [lightweight men’s The strategy seems to be promising as up-and- task of newly recruited double sculls] broke that barrier when they won gold in Sydney coming Polish female rowers have already made a Finnish coach and then in Athens.” By winning, Sycz and Kucharski became an mark on the international scene, winning medals and Veikko Sinisalo. inspiration for rowers across the nation: “They showed Polish rowers titles at world under-23 level. ■ D.F. © 2008 AFP Features

Predicting Beijing results: can you foretell the finish? A year before the Beijing Olympic Games, American economist Daniel Johnson predicted the overall medal outcome of the Games. He had done this for 2004 coming out with 95 per cent accuracy. Johnson did not look at prior country success, athlete

results or anything to do with athlete information. Johnson used only economics. © Detlev Seyb 18 Employing an economic formula, Johnson, a Postiglione analysed the 2008 Olympic results, same countries in the top three both years. The Polish lightweight men’s professor at Colorado College, USA, based his not by economic factors, but by comparing The men’s pair, men’s quad and men’s eight four express their joy at prediction solely on country economic indi- Beijing with the 2004 Olympic Games and followed a pattern of having two of the winning silver at the 2008 cators like per-capita income, population, the 2007 World Rowing Championship same boats in 2007 but the result was less Beijing Games. Apart from climate, political structure and home-nation results. Looking solely at countries and not at predictable when compared to 2004. Pawel Randa (far left), who advantage. The formula shows that athletes athletes or their circumstances, Postiglione won bronze in the lightweight from wealthy nations close to the Olympic found that results in Beijing were in fact At the less predictable end of the scale, the men’s double at the 2005 World host country are most likely to do well. relatively predictable. lightweight women’s double only had one Rowing Championships, none boat the same each time when comparing of them had ever medalled at If Olympic results can be picked from factors In the 14 Olympic events, there were no 2004 and 2007 with Beijing. This leaves three World Championship level in an beyond past results and athletes’ known events that had a completely different top events: the men’s double, men’s four and Olympic boat class before the abilities, how easy was it to predict who three when compared to Athens and Munich. lightweight men’s four, which can be put into Beijing Games. would win the rowing medals at Beijing’s The women’s single, women’s double, the less predictable file. Shunyi Olympic Rowing venue on 16 and 17 women’s quad and women’s eight showed of August 2008? a remarkable consistency when compared The men’s double came out as the most to both 2004 and 2007 results. Similarly the surprising Olympic result for many observers, FISA’s competitive commission member and women’s pair showed predictability with two with medals going to Australia, Estonia and international rowing coach Gianni Postiglione of the same countries making it to the top Great Britain. This result, says Postiglione, noted that some people were talking about three in 2004, 2007 and in Beijing. is really the only race that could not be big surprises in the results. But how surprising predicted from past results. None of the were they? Using 2007 results, the men’s single, and Beijing medallists had featured at Athens and lightweight men’s double had exactly the only one medalled in 2007. Australia’s >> Features

high performance manager, Noel Donaldson, Postiglione observes what he calls the “Olympic as well has a host of World Cup medals from however, says the Australian win was no rowers”. These athletes may not do so well in that year. At Beijing, China got six boats into surprise. between Olympic Games but at the Olympics the top six and secured two medals including they are able to have their best race. their first ever gold medal in rowing at the “There were no superstar performers in this Olympic Games. Expectations, however, were event,” says Donaldson who believes the “They make exceptional races every four possibly much higher. stage was set for Australia to do well when years,” says Postiglione. “They work on The 2007 World Championship they finished sixth at the first Rowing World the Olympic cycle rather than the world Donaldson considers China’s results podium in the men’s four Cup of 2007. championship cycle.” These athletes include predictable. “The have been inconsistent,” says included New Zealand, Italy and single scullers Olaf Tufte (NOR) and Rumyana Donaldson. “They have had highs and lows.” the Netherlands. At the 2008 Donaldson, who is a veteran of every Neykova (BUL), the Romanian women’s pair Olympic Games, none of these Olympic Games since Barcelona (1992) and eight and the Dutch women’s eight and Postiglione says that even more accuracy in 19 crews made it to the Final. notes that there is a recognisable step up in lightweight women’s double. prediction could be achieved by taking into Pictured here is Great Britain’s an Olympic year. “The Olympic Games bring account the actual athletes in the boat. men’s four, who, after failing out athletes who haven’t been fully prepared Leading up to the Beijing Olympics the to medal at the 2007 World in the last four years, for example university country on everyone’s lips was China. The And how did Professor Johnson do? He Rowing Championships, made students who stop to put everything in to host country’s big push to do well in rowing posted a 93 per cent accurate forecast for the it back to the top in time to grab the Olympic year. One year out from the had already paid dividends with 10 boats overall 2008 Beijing Olympic medal results. gold in Beijing. Olympics they become full-time athletes.” qualifying and six boats in the top six in 2007 ■ M. S. B. © Igor Meijer Features ROWING’S answer to Michael Phelps © 2007 CLEMENS BILAN/AFP/Getty Images Michael Phelps and his eight Olympic gold medals in swimming were one of the sporting highlights of the 2008 Games in Beijing. The nature of rowing does not allow an athlete to win more than two medals at any given Games, but the 20 accomplishments of rowing athletes are nonetheless just as remarkable. Our sport has seen individuals who, through ongoing perseverance and energy, have medalled repeatedly at consecutive Games, in some cases over a 20-year period.

Rowing’s most famous example is Great and eight has been Andrunache-Damian’s Britain’s Sir Steve Redgrave and his five trademark since Sydney. Will she do so again Olympic gold medals won at five different in London 2012? “Right now I need a long Games , starting at the 1984 Olympics in Los rest. I’d like to have another baby, be quiet for Angeles and ending at the Sydney Games in a while and then think about racing at the 2000. But since Athens 2004, Redgrave is no Games - London will be a great opportunity longer an exception in rowing’s record books. to attempt a new record,” says Andrunache Less famous outside of the rowing world yet -Damian. “What happened to me this year just as noteworthy are Romania’s Elisabeta [Olympic gold and bronze] is fabulous. It was rower, Katherine Grainger, has been through Marit van Eupen from Lipa and Georgeta Andrunache-Damian who magical! First of all because I promised my the cycle time and time again, finding the the Netherlands now hold the same score. son a medal and brought it back with me.” motivation to keep on moving: “I won’t deny the fact that it can be very tough to maintain Such accomplishments do not come without How do athletes “hang in there” year after the necessary levels of enthusiasm and drive sacrifices, as Andrunache-Damian confirms: year, World Championship after World year after year, especially in Britain where the “I’ve made many sacrifices in my sports Championship, Olympic cycle after Olympic weather always provides its own difficulties! career. The biggest one has been to stay cycle? What spurs them on? But underlying the pain, stress and exhaustion away from the two dear men in my life – my lies a love of the sport and an excitement to husband and son – for two years.” Doubling With her four world titles and three Olympic be facing enormous challenges with a great up at the Olympic Games in the women’s pair silvers, Great Britain’s most medalled female bunch of people.” >> Features

Persevering year after year does not ne disappointments actually helped you more say of Coach Dick Tonks: “He believed in us cessarily imply monotony, as Grainger than you could imagine - you learn more and when we didn’t believe in ourselves.” explains: “One of the biggest challenges get stronger, growing into the kind of athlete for me is avoiding the thought of ‘here you want to be. Perseverance has a magical Taking one step at a time and one year at a we go again’. It’s important that I’m not effect on overcoming obstacles and it is most time sometimes leads further than originally going back to certainly worth it in the end.” expected. That is what the Netherlands’ Marit do exactly what van Eupen discovered on her way to Beijing I’ve done for New Zealand’s Evers-Swindell twins Georgina gold, after winning bronze in 2004: “I decided the past year or and Caroline also know the meaning of to go for one more year after Athens, because four years, I don’t disappointment. The path leading to their I wanted to rediscover the simple joy of the want to slip into second Olympic title in Beijing was bumpy sport, something that had faded away a bit 21 complacency or to say the least: “Things were pretty bad after in the 2004 campaign, and also because a comfort zone. the Rowing World Cup in Poland and when I had the opportunity to race in the single, Every year I have we returned to New Zealand our biggest which I really love. And then it just happened rowed has held challenge was trying to stay positive. Georgie that I became triple world champion in the a roller coaster and I usually focus on the negative, on what lightweight single. After the 2007 World of experiences we can improve, rather than what we’re Rowing Championships I was ready for that I could not actually good at,” says Caroline. “So between retirement, and it was only because all the have predicted so Poland and Beijing, our challenge was to pieces came together - commitment and I am aware that it’s focus on the positive and what we do well. It dedication from all parties, support, fitness, unlikely to be dull!” may sound simple, but it was a task that didn’t resources - that I decided to give it a go.” come easily to the two of us. But by the time Grainger has had her we left for the Olympics we were getting the Achieving, however, is more than just the share of success, but hang of it.” Caroline goes on to share what it result of genetics, training and perseverance. has also had to grapple was like for her and Georgina to then win in Achievers are those who dare to dream, with disappointment: Beijing: “When we crossed the finish line [in as triple Olympic gold medallist Eskild “I think it’s valuable for Beijing], although we had no idea what color Ebbesen of Denmark says so well: “It’s all young athletes to know medal we’d got, we were just so happy that about believing that you have the potential Katherine Grainger (GBR) that everyone who has we had managed to row well and managed to achieve and see it as a realistic goal. holding her 2006 World succeeded has also had their to give it everything.” What gives life meaning is that you have Championship gold medal. fair share of failure and disappointment. something that you aim for and something Not everything will always go your way Coaches are unarguably key motivators in that you really want to do and have dreams.” and as time goes on you realise that those long athletic careers. Georgina and Caroline ■ D.F. © Peter Spurrier/Intersport-Images© Peter Features Four-time Olympic Champion Kathrin Boron from Germany competed at her fifth Olympic Games in Beijing where she won her fifth Olympic medal (bronze in the women’s quadruple sculls) at the age of 39. The aging Olympian debate Spurrier/Intersport© Peter Images

It is generally thought that Olympic was nearly 39 years old before he won his first training and injury-recovery techniques, as rowers, as part of a strength and Olympic medal. well as rules changes that allow athletes to 22 endurance sport, peak in their late make money and still retain their Olympic twenties with the average age of the Looking at the last 20 years of Olympic Games, eligibility. Twenty-one members of the U.S. Olympians at around 27 years old. There the number of older rowers (determined here team are 40 or older.” is also the general belief that older as 35 years of age and older) has increased athletes cannot maintain the speed of steadily (see Fig. 1 on page 23). This increase There have been a number of studies that have their younger counterparts. If this is true, is despite there being more Olympic rowers looked into the impact of aging on athlete why does it appear that there are more at the 1988 Games (a total of 622) before the competitiveness, but these studies are often rowers staying in the sport for longer quota system began in 1996, capping the incomplete as athletes frequently retire from and remaining competitive well past number of rowers at 550. top level competition for reasons other than their assumed peak years? a loss of competitive edge due to aging. At the Games in 1988 there were just six For rowers these external reasons At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Regatta, two older rowers. A steady increase over the next include the desire to begin a career, high-profile athletes were in their 43rd year. 20 years of older athletes has brought this time constraints due to a full-time James Tomkins was racing in the Australian number to 28 in 2008. In percentage terms, job, family commitments and men’s eight. In the same boat was Sam Conrad, this takes the number of older athletes from many more. >> Tomkins’ junior by 18 years. For Tomkins, less than 1 per cent (1988) up to 5 per cent in making it into the eight meant securing his 2008 (see Fig. 2 on page 23). seat over much younger team members. Jueri Jaanson of Estonia, also nearly 43 years USA Today (8 August 2008 issue) wrote old at Beijing, was partnered with 28–year- that the average age of America’s Olympic old Tonu Endrekson in the men’s double and athletes had increased to 27, up from 23 a together they took silver. Jaanson, who has generation ago. The article went on to say, been rowing at the top level since his youth, “Experts attribute the trend to advances in Features

Spirduso et al. (2005) looked at masters competitors, including rowers, and found there was a mar The study noted that the recent records of ked reduction in both frequency and intensity with which they train. The reasons given were: masters athletes aged 50 – 59 were faster or almost the same as the best times at the 1. Maintaining full-time jobs, so less time 4. Older athletes are more prone to injuries 1896 Olympic Games (except for the 200m to train. and take a longer time to rehabilitate sprint). It should also be highlighted that 2. Have a lifetime of experiences that from injury. the record in the 40km cycling road race mean they place training time and sport 5. Older athletes are less likely to use per- event, the United States record for men aged competition within a broader perspec- formance-enhancing behaviours. 60 to 69 is only 14 per cent lower than the US 23 tive than a 20-year-old. 6. Less likely to view sport as a potential elite record. 3. For many people an aggressive training source of revenue or a way out of an programme is hard to maintain when undesirable lifestyle. “This phenomenal maintenance of function the potential victory that will come out 7. The motivation to train and compete occurs in events such as cycling, running, of that training is not so glamorous. It is decreases with age. swimming and rowing sports in which the easier to train with the aim of a national 8. Ageism – societal attitudes towards systems most resistant to aging – aerobic, or world placing rather than training for older participants. Expectations that endurance and strategy – are predominant.” a win in an age group masters category. older people should rest. >>

Fig 1. Olympic rowers 35 years of age and older Fig 2. Percentage of total Olympic rowers 35 years of age or older

1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 35+ years 6 14 13 20 22 28 % 35+ 1.0 n/a 2.4 3.7 4.0 5.2 38+ years 1 6 4 6 6 8 years 40+ years 0 1 1 0 3 5

Note: 1. Does not include coxswains as physicality is used as one of the main indicators. 2. Age calculated by year athlete born, not age at Olympic Games. 3. Using 35 years of age and older is a guide based on current athlete ages. Note: Does not include coxswains. 24 og a twr cmestn fr age- for related declines in performance.” compensating toward way a long that go can indicates methods absolute training contemporary time mean across “The performance continues: Baltes training andpractice.” easily of amount the increasing to or maintaining by able appear improveevenperformance or their maintain athletes training. maintaining “These and practice of role critical the show athletes masters of studies Baltes and Baltes oftraining.”and intensity frequency in a “decrease of reflection a but not somuchafeature oftheirbiological age, was athletes of performance in decline the by Analysis Features Leitzelter et al. Leitzelteret 19) umrsd that summarised (1993) (1986) argued that argued (1986) Beijing at theageof43. Beijing Olympic Gamesin at hissixth James Tomkins (AUS) competed Four-time Olympic medallist defined andsingledout by theirage. be not will Jaanson and Tomkins like rowers future the in Perhaps longer. for game their of top the at stay and longer for sport the in is potentialevery for these athletes to remain to reduce there sport, the quitting for reasons external ways find rowers competitive and professional more becomes rowing As needs, interests demands.” andexternal time and effort that are also required for other months, as such resources taxes decades, over and years, training “Intensive athlete. older the of capacity training the reduce to in step factors other as reached completely be ever will performance of limits true the that unlikely is it that concluded study The ■ M. S.B.

© 2007 Getty Images © 2008 AFP/MUSTAFA OZER/Getty Images 25 red of friends and members family the allowed Television O how withtheirfavorite fansconnect such asF internet mediatechnologies andsocial around theglobe. Butmore recently, broughthas been to livingrooms O television broadcasting at the1936 from backhome?Since theadvent of rowers share experience theBeijing How didfamilyandfriendsofO T Features lympic rowers. lympic Games, the O he Olympic Fan acebook have to begun change ye Hamilton Kyle lympic spectacle lympic spectacle srk o Canada’s of stroke , lympic literally watching the torch being passed on.” Kevin Light rowerswatchedlocalthey as faces rowers’junior the of some on looks the see to incredible was “It was Browett. says amazing,” party viewing Olympic “The Browett. such officials Jennifer Director Development Domestic Canada as Rowing and rowers, excitedto stay up late, wildly cheering pyjamas masters in rowers junior with screen, big the on Finals the view to party larger even an of tirelesslyover the last four years, was the scene goldmedal eight and silver medal pair trained Canada’s where Lake, Elk on boathouse The Karen. says neighbours!” the up woke we loud sure I’m so CA-NA-DA chanted and TV the at screamed all “We barbecue. white and red supporters at their parents’ house for a rowdy anxious dozen couple a hosted Karen sister Hamilton’sCanada. in party viewing night TV late a for opportunity an became race his of broadcast television live 2:30am the away, Olympic moments. With Beijing being too far gold medal winning men’s eight, to share his did back hometheir those for cheer heroes? family on site to support them in Beijing. How Not all Olympic rowers had theirand friends receive their Olympic medals. It was Dave Calder Dave Experience and and n San eln ue te silent the used Keeling Shaun and Clemente Di Ramon of fans Africa, South In her followed along thecourse. he as bike the from race her call medallist from her coach, Charlie Butt, who silver narrated single Guerette Michelle women’s of Fans technologies. other on relied world the of parts many in Withoutlive television coverage, rowing fans ofhowthe stories peoplewatched my race.” cominghome after theOlympics washearing the telephone. One of my favourite parts about havinganother oneofmy family orfriends on while computer their on race thewatching story after story of people staying up until 2am “I Cummins. says night,” Sunday our show time prime women’s around until Final didn’t eight “NBC race. experience her unique watching a had eight, women’s Anna city of Seattle, each fan of hometown favourite the UnitedStatesinthe border in Across the Cummins , five seat in the gold medal gold the in seat five , (USA) listened to a phone a to listened (USA)

ae heard have >>

A Canadian fan

Zsuzsanna Francia, Cummins’ crewmate in race tracker on along the USA’s women’s eight, found that the social Francia agreed: “It was great because Facebook fan page for Canada’s with cell phones, as Olympic rights issues did media website Facebook offered her a sense of people I hadn’t spoken to in years joined! lightweight double of Tracy not allow the usual live audio commentary connection through a support group created My best friends from my university rowing Cameron and Melanie Kok. streaming: “We all got our cell phones out in her honour by Stephanie Foelster, a former programme made the group. I loved having and conference called each other while roommate and rowing teammate from the the group because it made me realise how we watched the live timing online,” says Athletic Club of Pennsylvania University. many people were cheering for me!” Andrew Grant, coach for King Edward VII School Rowing Club in Johannesburg. “As “Our rowing class was thrilled when Susan A Facebook fan group for Nathan Twaddle the 500m splits showed up we would have a was named to the 2008 Olympic team!” says allowed non-rowers like New Zealander Scott brief chat about what we thought and then Foelster. “I created her support group as a Anderson who has lived in Canada for the last a brief period of silence would follow as we way to let other former rowers, and also old three years to show support for a sport he saw anticipated the next split. At the 1500m mark, friends from Pennsylvania University, know as his native country’s best chance for medals. just down on a qualification spot, Ramon and about her great accomplishment. As people “The guts and effort required in rowing are Shaun were going to have to pull something found out, they began following her Beijing something that all Kiwis are proud of when out of the bag. The one and a half minutes whereabouts themselves. Many people left explaining the events we’ve won medals in,” that it took for the result to come up seemed messages on the group’s wall for Susan and says Anderson. “The group gave me a greater like a lifetime. Then pandemonium broke out many more wrote on Susan’s own Facebook sense of loyalty to the cause when I couldn’t on the cell network as we learned that they wall after seeing the group. It was a simple be there to cheer them on.” ■ Lisa Lynam had inched, literally, into the A Final!” way for Susan to see how much support she had back in the United States.” Features

Rowers tell us in their own words what it was like for them to be in Beijing. Here are some extracts from their blogs as well as direct quotes...

Olympic preparation a long time. I think we were really confident the stroke to produce more speed, so that I New Zealand’s Mahe Drysdale “I think that throughout history every athlete and serene in our ability to have a good could build up to my desperate sprint in the being helped off the water by at every Olympic Games will have wanted race. I felt composed, full of huge content.” finish. I know I have that in me so now is the a rescue team after racing the to crawl under a rock and hide until it’s all – Julien Bahain (France), Olympic bronze time.’ – Olaf Tufte (Norway), Olympic Champion, men’s single sculls Final at the over at some point in their preparation. It medallist, men’s quadruple sculls men’s single 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. is difficult not to when you know how big and important one race is. Whether it is “Today is a very special day. It is race day. “Reaching today’s Final was far from 9.7 seconds or 2.5 hours long, you know Shortly after waking up this morning, I could guaranteed, and making it to the podium that other people who are the best in their feel the mini-nuclear reactor in my stomach even less so. We rowed the last 250m with country, at the peak of their form, are trying starting to fire up, getting ready to turn the our hearts as we had no strength left - it was to take what you want most in the world; the turbines. I run into my teammates in the hotel worth it.” – Rossano Galtarossa (Italy), Olympic one thing that you have been working so room hallway and I can sense that they are silver medallist, men’s quadruple sculls hard for, for more than four years.” – Peter Reed feeling the same thing. Again.” – Adam Kreek (Great Britain), Olympic Champion, men’s four (Canada), Olympic Champion, men’s eight The medal ceremony “I was incapable of even rowing a stroke Before the race Racing to the finish line after the finish, I sat there bent over trying to “Some who know me will tend to think “And then my coach came in my head: ‘Dare recover, it wasn’t happening and thankfully I must have been jumping up and down all to believe in yourself and start to do your the rescue boat was soon there to help. night long and not have closed my eyes a bit finish before you think you should. Just do it. When you’re in that state all you want to do the night before the Final, but in the end it I started to count 10 strokes at the time and is be away from everyone so no one can see was one of the best nights I had ever had for started putting in more power at the end of you, so they took me to the last place >> Features

I wanted to be, the media pontoon. I spent although I was struggling and we ended up to see it at night when I went there for the some time on the pontoon before being going sideways for a while until I managed Opening Ceremony. It is so impressive, such stretchered off to the medical tent… to get my body under control and stand an expression of beauty. For me it is certainly still.” – Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand), bronze the most beautiful stadium in the world. But There was never any question about making medallist, men’s single the second and stronger shock was to see the the (medal) ceremony, even if I had to be inside for the first time, full of people, but still stretchered over I was going to be there. Reflections intimate and so beautiful. In addition, there I wanted to acknowledge the achievements “We were never not going to make it. It felt like was the emotion of the opening ceremony of Tufte and Synek and because an Olympic a life test. One which for the first time in my to start a few minutes later indicating that medal ceremony is a very special occasion. life I felt I was seeing and responding to ahead we could finally see the result of seven years 28 Again I set my mind to trying to control my of time. It is warped, but when it all began to of hard work by so many people. The Games body and about 30 minutes after our race had unfold I remember thinking and feeling like and the competitions were still to happen, to finished I finally managed to sit up andbe this is actually what I have been preparing be discovered with the fantastic uncertainty walked towards the medal dais. By the time I for. It was not just a race. It was much, much of the results which is one of the great got there I was well enough to walk onto the more. It was not just a gold medal, but more. attractions of sport. This will remain for me dais unassisted and was close to tears when We were not just a pair and, if any or all of the greatest moment of my Beijing Games.” Italy’s Luca Agamennoni both Tufte and Synek walked over to me to this makes sense, we were more.” – Drew Ginn – FISA president, Denis Oswald (b), Simone Venier, Rossano give me a hug and check that I was OK. (Australia), Olympic Champion, men’s pair Galtarossa and Simone Raineri (s) racing at the 2008 Beijing It was awesome to receive my medal and the Thoughts on Beijing Olympic Games in the men’s whole ceremony just seemed to flash by. We “I had only seen the Bird’s Nest (stadium) quadruple sculls. did lift Tufte onto our shoulders at the end during the day and my first real shock was © 2008 FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images Paralympic Champions from Italy Paola cMoaeechet thes 2008 Paralympic Champions Protopapa (b), Luca Agoletto, Daniele Signore, Graziana Saccocci (s) and LTAMix4+ Alessandro Franzetti (c). AW1x Helene Raynsford from Great Britain (gold), Liudmila Vauchok of Belarus (silver), and Laura Schwanger from the USA (bronze).

©2008 Feng Li/Getty Images © 2008 Feng Li/Getty Images © 2008 Feng China’s gold medallists Yangjing Zhou and Zilong Shan of China, silver medallists John Maclean and Kathryn Ross from Australia, and bronze medallists from Brazil Elton Santana and Josiane Lima.

© 2008 Getty Images/Jamie McDonald Storming into the Paralympic Games The year was 2008. The Paralympic Games in Beijing had finished.T wenty-four adaptive rowers and three coxswains had made history by being the first ever athletes to receive medals at the Paralympic Rowing Regatta.

Rather than easing onto the Paralympic swain Alessandro Franzetti will remember scene, the winning adaptive rowers took the Beijing. Their win in the legs, trunk and arms Games by storm. Arms only single sculler mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+) was achieved (AW1x) Helene Raynsford of Great Britain with such a comfortable lead that Franzetti did 30 not only took gold in the Final, but also set not have to push his crew in the final sprint. a new World Best Time in her heat. More astoundingly Raynsford achieved this record Great Britain ruled the men’s arms only single in slight head wind conditions. Raynsford is sculls (AM1x). Tom Aggar, who became World part of a new group of adaptive rowers who Champion in his first year of international have been in the sport a relatively short time, competition in 2007, was pushed relentlessly but have redefined the standard. by Oleksandr Petrenko of Ukraine, but Aggar came through to gold in the final sprint. The new standard demonstrated at Beijing Aggar’s win helped push his country into the saw the end of some of the pioneer leaders top spot overall at the regatta. in adaptive rowing. World Champions fell and new blood ploughed on through. At the Shunyi Olympic regatta course the Beijing organisers ensured a flawless regatta: Host nation China came into their own in the the 1000m start line was equipped with a trunk and arms mixed double sculls (TAMix2x). floating dock, a large crowd of mainly Chinese Yangjing Zhou and Zilong Shan are in their supporters created the perfect Paralympic Kathrin Wolff of Germany carries second year of competition and moved up atmosphere, and boat houses and launching her oars at Shunyi Olympic from qualifying their boat last year in seventh pontoons were designed for trouble-free use Rowing-Canoeing Park during position to taking Paralympic gold this year. by the adaptive rowers. day two of the Paralympic Rowing Regatta in Beijing, Italians Paola Protopapa, Luca Agoletto, ■ M.S.B. China. Daniele Signore, Graziana Saccocci and cox cParaloacheymps ics Great Britain’s Paralympic rowing success Great Britain’s Paralympic rowing team stroked its way to the top of the medal standings at the first ever Paralympic Rowing Regatta in Beijing. The eight-person squad fielded three medals - two gold and one bronze - in the four adaptive rowing boat classes.

31 Like Britain’s Olympic rowers, who topped Kingsley was in Beijing and continues to work the medal haul in Beijing, its Paralympic on the strategic direction of the programme rowers have tapped into the highly funded for 2012. “David Tanner, as GB Rowing’s

GB Rowing programme that is hungry to Performance Director, has ensured the © 2008 Getty Images continue domination for London 2012. adaptive programme has been appropriately integrated into GB Rowing.” According to Tom Aggar, 2008 Paralympic Champion in the Arms Only Single Sculls, GB With eyes on London, Kingsley admits Rowing set the bar high for its adaptive team, GB Rowing is still developing its talent in terms of medal goals and target times to identification strategy and setting target break world records, as it does for its Olympic goals. “Clearly we wish to continue our rowers, but it also provided similar support success; however, we have not finalised our programmes. While adaptive rowing locations specific goals and targets with our funders Adaptive rowing has seen considerable 2008 Paralympic Champion are scattered around the country, the team yet. We are under no illusion that the standard growth in Great Britain including a specialised Helene Raynsford training on comes together at the GB Rowing Training will continue to rise as many other nations youth programme led by Simon Goodey at the Redgrave-Pinsent Lake in Centre at Caversham on the Redgrave-Pinsent will have had the time to develop their own the London Youth Rowing Centre. Rowing Caversham, Great Britain. Lake and trains under Acting Lead Coach programmes further.” sessions are offered for children with Adaptive Boats Tom Dyson. physical, sensory and learning impairments. Rowers have come to the sport from a variety Youths who come to have access to life- British adaptive team manager Louise of backgrounds, says Kingsley. “We have improving recreation and physical fitness Kingsley says, “Since becoming a Paralympic found that word of mouth has been the activity could one day find themselves sport, rowing has benefited from funding most effective recruitment tool so far,” says part of Great Britain’s Paralympic success. from UK Sport, National Lottery and Siemens.” Kingsley. ■ Lisa Lynam cParaloacheymps ics Tom Aggar – Paralympic Champion Tom Aggar’s new title is a big change. One that the 24-year-old London native found came on to him with a speed similar to his resounding victories.

In a short period of just 12 months, Within a year Aggar had found rowing as part very tough physically and different from the Aggar, who rows in the men’s arms of his rehabilitation. rowing machine because of the balance and only single sculls, catapulted to the oar handling. “When I started I couldn’t keep top of the Paralympic rowing world. “I started rowing about a year after sustaining the boat straight.” 32 After his first international race at my injury, mainly to keep fit and for my own the 2007 World Rowing Cham personal enjoyment,” says Aggar. In just over a year, however, Aggar was pionships in Munich, Aggar not amazed to find himself rowing straight down © 2008 Feng Li/Getty Images © 2008 Feng only won a world title, but set a new He soon found his competitive spirit sparked. the Beijing course to Paralympic gold and adaptive World Best Time (5:13.13) “I entered the 2006 British Indoor Rowing his family there to cheer him on. The high over the 1000m distance that left Championships in the adaptive event and it expectations, however, weighed heavy. two-time World Champion was from there I was introduced to some of Dominic Monypenny the coaching staff and began to get out on “I think the pressure was much greater for me behind in silver. In the water. I was hooked and set my sights on going into the Paralympic regatta, especially September 2008, selection for the 2007 World Champs. From going in as World Champion and being Aggar broke his there I began training under the GB setup.” undefeated all year.” own World Best Time when racing in the heat at the The 189cm, 84kg Aggar found the rigors of As he celebrated his new title during the first ever Paralympic Rowing Regatta training – a routine of twice daily workouts closing ceremony, Aggar looked forward Tom Aggar of Great Britain (5:12.25). He then went on to win the first ever six days a week, including weights and other to 2012: “There was also a lot of excitement celebrates his gold medal at Paralympic gold in his boat class. cross-training like handcycling and swimming with the handover knowing the Games will the 2008 Paralympic Games in – a challenge that required “complete and be held in London.” Beijing, China. Big change is nothing new, however, for the utter dedication”. former Warwick University rugby player. In ■ Lisa Lynam 2005, his life was transformed in an instant “It’s definitely one of the tougher sports when he had an unfortunate fall that left him out there, but I enjoyed the challenge,” says with a broken back and paralysis in his legs. Aggar. He also found getting on the water Coaching Understanding Olaf Bringing out the best in the single-minded single sculler requires a different set of skills as a coach. No one knows this better than Norway’s Tore Ovrebo. Ovrebo is the coach of two-time Olympic Champion Olaf Tufte.

Norway is in a unique rowing situation - it technical side; he came from the strength/ 33 does not have a large population and the endurance side. His style has evolved through group of elite rowing athletes is tiny. Tufte the years. We have worked with the whole of is essentially in a single because, at his level, the stroke very systematically and now we there is no one else for him to row with. are close to the best stroke for Olaf. It uses his Ovrebo has used this unique situation to help strength to his advantage.” lead Tufte to back-to-back Olympic golds. Tufte believes in sticking to what works for Ovrebo is himself an Olympian and can draw him, and Ovrebo respects this. on his own national team experience as a rower when coaching. He had barely finished with

© 2008 Getty Images “It’s the boat speed that counts,” says Ovrebo. elite rowing when he was pulled into coaching, “I don’t have one picture. I like to develop the beginning at regional level. A year later, in 1992, individual’s stroke.” Ovrebo concedes that it Ovrebo was brought in to assist the national means different styles in a crew, but for Tufte coach, the legendary Frank Hansen. who is in the single, this is not a consideration. Tufte, a former motocross rider, first made Ovrebo says that as a coach of a skilled the national team in 1997 and that is when athlete one of his main objectives is to work Ovrebo, who had by then become the head with the athlete as a whole. This includes the coach, began working with him. Stories wholeness of the stroke as well as that of the abound describing Tufte’s huge capacity athlete’s entire life. to work and train and his annual Farmers Olaf Tufte of Norway Challenge sheds light on the physical nature Tufte’s rowing style has changed since Ovrebo of Tufte’s life. Ovrebo soon recognised there first saw him. “Olaf didn’t come from the was no point in holding back on >> Coaching

Ovrebo coached Tufte through to silver in the double at the 2000 Olympics and then gold in 2004 in the single. He then left his coaching 34 job and started working for Norway’s Olympic Committee. Bjoern-inge Pettersen took over as Norway’s head coach.

“For the last four years most of the day-to-day training for Olaf has been with Bjoern-inge. But my relationship with Olaf has developed as race manager, was the one that went to outsider. “We did not define Olaf as defending into a strong one so we have maintained Beijing with Tufte. champion, we defined him as the challenger, dialogue all along.” Pettersen took over Tufte’s a dark horse,” says Ovrebo. “Olaf preferred it technical development and daily routine, “Olaf had a heavy influence on that decision,” this way. It did not mean less work but part of with Ovrebo coming in for regattas. “Nearer says Ovrebo. “In the last part leading up to his preparation was how to attack.” to the Olympics in Beijing, we agreed that Beijing, from Poznan (Rowing World Cup) on, my responsibility was Olaf’s wholeness, his it was Olaf and me alone.” In typical Tufte style, the sculler maintained completeness.” heavy training loads right through to the Winning gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic last few weeks before Beijing. He was well Apart from two coaches, a large team was Games required two very different approaches. prepared. The respiratory problems that had assembled behind Tufte leading to the Beijing Leading up to Athens, Tufte was the favourite. begun in 2004 were under control, he was Olympics, including psychologists, strength As the 2003 World Champion, all eyes were on relishing the role of underdog and a second trainers and doctors. Ovrebo oversaw this him to dominate at the Olympics. Olympic gold was the reward. team and on race days became Tufte’s manager. Because only one coach could be The lead up to Beijing was significantly ■ M.S.B. accredited for the Beijing Olympics, Ovrebo, different. For 2008, Tufte saw himself as the Development

Haidar Nozad (b) and Hussein The Olympic Games Jebur (s) of Iraq compete in

the men’s double sculls at the © 2008 Getty Images/Jonathan Ferrey and developing countries Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. More than 65 percent of FISA’s members are seriously struggling with financial problems, lack of infrastructure, poor club activities, partial or total lack of 35 government support, no coaching education and, for our new members, accept also in the future, and is it the price we technically and physically. We feel we have no rowing culture and tradition, pay to be members of the Olympic family. made progress in this work and, with 100 of according to FISA’s Development our 130 members participating in the process Director Thor Nilsen. They all come in The Olympic Charter clearly highlights the for Olympic qualification, we are global and under the umbrella of “developing goal of universality and the need for countries have universality. countries”. As the quota system set by from all five continents to be represented. the International Olympic Committee Continental qualifications are accepted as the Next point is the quality of the rowers. Here limits the size of participation and best tool to reach this goal. After analyses of we must divide up the developing countries strongly emphasises universality at the population and participation, FISA decided to in two groups: Olympic Games, these countries are reserve places in women’s and men’s singles, being given the possibility to compete and women’s and men’s lightweight double 1) Countries with a rowing tradition, but with at the Olympics thanks to the system of sculls as continental qualification categories. political and/or financial problems. Continental Qualification. What are FISA doing to assist developing countries for Olympic participation, and is 2) New members missing tradition and The results list from the Olympic Games shows there any progress since the system started infrastructure. great differences between the winners and more than 12 years ago? the crews in Finals C, D and E. Many athletes With Group One, FISA, in cooperation with and coaches from developed countries feel FISA’s first priority is the development Olympic Solidarity, have identified talented discriminated against to see athletes with less of our sport; that means, in short, more athletes and given them the possibility to quality being given the honour to participate in members, more participation in national, participate in training camps and international the world’s most prestigious sports event - the continental and international competition regattas and championships. This has been Olympic Games. This is something we must and championships and better quality successful and we have seen some of >> Development

those athletes in Finals at the World Rowing The rest of the participants ended up in Championships and at the Olympic Games. Finals C to E and showed good racing and a fighting spirit when they competed with Group Two is our challenge, with limited or no crews on their own level. infrastructure, poor quality of equipment, no rowing tradition and sometimes no training The main question is: have the developing tradition. The number of active rowers can be countries showed any progress in the last only a handful and talent identification is just 12 years? If we look at the result lists, the a word without reality. In some parts of the situation has not changed a lot, but if we look world nutrition is also an issue and limits the at the technical level, the progress has been possibility for proper training. massive. 36 Again we have a strong cooperation with During the Olympics I received many positive Olympic Solidarity for national, regional and comments about the technical level of our continental courses and training camps. Boat developing crews from international coaches donations are a strong tool, and slowly the following the races on their bikes. The crews infrastructure starts to develop. Our group know how to row, even if the physical of development coaches focus on three performance is still behind international top points; rowing technique, rigging and training level. There is much reason for this: a limited methodology. We also try to identify talents for number of athletes to choose from, many are a more specific program, but this is not always missing a basic training background, they are supported by the National Federations due to really amateurs who combine studies or work local political problems or other priorities. with training, and they are missing international experience. Such a platform doesn’t give self- At the Beijing Olympics, 21 of the participa confidence but the experience they bring with ting countries were recognised as “developing them back home will give a positive stimulus countries” and received assistance in one or for future progress. In Beijing, Iran saw its rowers another form. Only Cuba reached the A Final compete for the first time ever with one crew and two crews in the B Final, So we are moving in the right direction at the Olympic Games. Female but we must take into consideration that with good technical progress and better rower Homa Hosseini was her Cuba has a long tradition in rowing, a good understanding of physical requirements. country’s flagbearer at the national structure, but are fighting with Remember that on the day they begin to Opening Ceremony of the 2008 financial limitations. win medals they are no longer a developing Olympic Games. country! ■ Thor S. Nilsen, FISA Development Director © 2008 Getty Images/Cameron Spencer coaches

President Treasurer Denis Oswald Mike Williams Vice-president Executive Director Anita L. De Frantz Matt Smith

Monthly review of major FISA is the governing body of the sport of rowing and the oldest international sports federation in the World Rowing news Olympic movement. Based in Lausanne, the Olympic capital, World Rowing Subscribe only on FISA has 128 member federations worldwide, organises World Championships, Olympic Regattas and World Cups E-Newsletter Go to Publications -> WR E-Newsletter and promotes all forms of rowing. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the FISA Council. Reprints permitted with acknowledgement of source.

Publisher FISA Subscribe Now! FISA Maison du Sport International World Rowing E-Magazine Marketing and Avenue de Rhodanie 54 Communications 1007 Lausanne Exclusive and in-depth articles Manager Switzerland World Rowing on the world of rowing Marion Gallimore Editor Tel: +41 21 617 8373 E-Magazine Free subscription on Débora Feutren Fax: +41 21 617 8375 [email protected] Go to Publications -> WR E-Magazine World Rowing Journalist Melissa S. Bray Contributors Lisa Lynam Thomas Nickson Comprehensive athlete bios+stats Igor Meijer AFP, 2008 Getty Images, Seyb, photo © Detlev Cover Switzerland. SimpleCom Graphics, Morges, Designed by Detailed international results back to 1990 on World Rowing Database Go to Results & Bios -> Athlete Bios powered by RowingOne or Results & Bios -> Past Results