The German rowing eight is threatened with new adversity
How times are changing: The Germany eight (photo from the European Championships in August in Munich) is only an outsider in the World Cup hopefuls on Friday
Which: pa/SVEN SIMON/Frank Hoermann
After a weak World Cup day with four bitter defeats, the discussion about the dwindling competitiveness of German rowers is getting louder. Only the two ones are still considered medal candidates. On the other hand, the German flagship only has hope.
VFour starts, four bankruptcies – the World Cup frustration is growing in the German Rowing Association (DRV). All of the teams that started in the 14 Olympic competition classes on Thursday trailed far behind the competition in the semi-finals of the title fights in Racice (Czech Republic). The women’s sculls and both lightweight sculls didn’t get past the last places.
The coxless four had to make do with fifth place. Head coach Brigitte Bielig asked for leniency: “We are in a year of new beginnings and transition. So we didn’t expect miracles.”
Even the eighth, which has been successful for years, is threatened with adversity. For the first time since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the final of an international top regatta could take place without the DRV parade boat. After the disappointing fourth place in the heats, batsman Torben Johannesen (Hamburg) and his crew are outsiders in the repechage on Friday (12:45 p.m.). In the duel with the Netherlands, the USA and China, only the first two teams qualify for the final. Coach Uwe Bender was combative despite the bleak omens: “We will try everything. Our goal remains to reach the A final.”
Successes are needed – otherwise the debate will intensify
More chances than the eight are given to Oliver Zeidler and Alexandra Föster in the one. Both the 2019 world champion from Munich and the EM third place from 2022 from Meschede are considered the last remaining DRV medal aspirants. After all, Zeidler doesn’t have to duel either with Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos (Greece) or with European champion Melvin Twellaar (Netherlands) on Friday, who start in the other semi-final. On the other hand, Föster has to deal with Olympic champion Emma Twigg (New Zealand).
If these DRV trumps don’t sting either, the debate about necessary reforms between the association’s leadership and many athletes is likely to intensify. Bielig is hoping for a trend reversal in the upcoming pre-Olympic year: “The mostly young athletes cannot start straight away. We have to let them learn and then draw our conclusions.”
