Rowing's first Youth Olympic Champions
Rowing's first Youth Olympic Champions were crowned today at Marina Bay Reservoir in Singapore.
The inaugural Youth Olympic Regatta took place over four days, from 15 to 18 August, and assembled a total of 96 athletes from 45 nations competing in four boat classes: the Junior Women's Single Sculls (JW1x), the Junior Men's Single Sculls (JM1x), the Junior Women's Pair (JW2-) and the Junior Men's Pair (JM2-).
Nine nations medalled today, with Australia, Germany and Greece winning two medals each.
In the first final of the day, the Junior Women's Single Sculls (JW1x), the reigning Junior World Champion, Judith Sievers of Germany, made a huge surge in the last 500m, rowing past four competitors to grab gold. "It's so cool - I cannot express it with words! I'm so proud! It is history now to be the first Youth Olympic Champion [in rowing]," said Sievers.
In the Junior Men's Single Sculls (JM1x), Lithuania's Rolandas Mascinskas surprised the crowd of spectators by finishing ahead of two-time Junior World Champion Felix Bach of Germany.
Great Britain's Georgia Howard-Merrill and Fiona Gammond won the third gold medal of the day in the Junior Women's Pair (JW2-). "I did not even know we won, we're shocked! We did not realise we would be that fast," said Howard-Merrill.
And the final gold medal of the day was won by Slovenians Jure Grace and Grega Domanjko in the Junior Men's Pair (JM2-) who overtook reigning Junior World Champions from Greece in a massive sprint to the line. "I feel great, and great pain for the moment as well, but this is our reward for all the hard work," said Domanjko.
Despite the rain, the grandstands were full and very enthusiastic. There were several top sports leaders in attendance. FISA President and IOC Executive Board Member Denis Oswald joined IOC President Jacques Rogge, Chairman of the Youth Olympic Games Coordination Commission Sergei Bubka, IOC Vice President Thomas Bach, Executive Board Members Craig Reedie and John Coates as well as FISA Vice President and IOC member Anita DeFrantz, former FISA Council member and IOC member Ivan Dibos, IOC members Carlos Nuzman, Leo Wallner, Andre Bottero, Goran Petersson, Guy Drut, Chiharu Igaya, Gunilla Lindberg, Phil Coles, IOC Director General Urs Lacotte and Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt. Many Presidents of National Olympic Committees including former rower and French NOC President Denis Masseglia, Greek NOC President Sypros Capralos, among others.
- Links:
- www.worldrowing.com