It has already been reported that Latvian skater Akmens took eighth place in the Tokyo Olympic Games in the 200-meter sprint on Thursday.
In the final, the Olympic debutant Akmens finished last out of eight athletes. The Latvian athlete was a little late in the start and lost his pace before the finish, finishing 200 meters in 36,014 seconds 0.979 seconds behind the new Olympic champion Sándor Totka from Hungary.
“Entering the finals was my biggest success, but I wanted a place higher. I wanted to get caught up in the top six, but the competitors were very strong,” Stone is a little disappointed in her performance. “I did everything I could, but the titled competitors were stronger than me.”
“If you had to drive again and drive the same way, maybe better,” speculates.
In the preliminaries, Akmens and another competitor started prematurely, so he was more cautious in the repeated start. In the semi-finals and finals, the athlete was in a much better mood.
The stone was a bit late in the final and was unable to get a good rhythm to fight for a higher position. The beginning of the distance is the athlete’s strength.
“I tried to work the finish line as much as I could. Against the rest of the background, I may feel slower, but that’s my technique – that’s how my boat goes forward,” explains the athlete.
In the semifinals, Akmens took fourth place in his rowing. The result achieved is of little significance, as the main thing was to enter the final.
“Already last year, I declared myself one of the best in the world. I definitely feel part of the elite,” adds the Olympic debutant. “We now have experience in the World Cup finals, including the ability to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.”
Stone is determined to continue working to have the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics as well.
“This is a very good achievement for me, but I have to go ahead,” the Stone is militant. “You don’t win the eighth place in the Olympics either, it has to be fought. The fact that you are here is already an achievement. I am very happy.”
The kayaker is satisfied with what has been done in the preparation stage, so there is no remorse for the result achieved. He recalls that the competitors were very strong.
It is difficult for an athlete to say what needs to be improved in his technique. At the Paris Olympics, sprint distance will no longer be on the competition program. Instead, Akmens plans to start in the 500-meter doubles competition.
Overall, Akmens is pleased to have experienced the Olympic atmosphere. Additional emotions are provided by roommates – beach volleyball duo Mārtiņš Pļaviņš / Edgars Točs.
“The team has a high sense of community, which is very pleasant,” says the kayaker about the first Olympic Games in his career and future plans. “On the morning of August 7, I’m going home. Next week, the Latvian championship is already ahead. [Volkovu] I plan to compete in the doubles. “
At the World Cup, Stone will focus on the Paris Olympics.
The Italian medal was won by Italian Manfredi Rica, who lost 0.045 seconds to Totka, and the third was Rio de Janeiro Olympic champion Liam Heath from Great Britain, who was 0.167 seconds short before the title was won again.
The 25-year-old Akmens, who was the youngest participant in the final, was 0.446 seconds behind the seventh position.
Akmens is the winner of the 2019 World U-23 Championship.
In the national selection competition for the 200-meter qualification, Akmens beat the leading Latvian kayakers of the last decade, Aleksejs Rumjancevs.
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