After world titles in indoor rowing at the beginning of this decade, Lemmelijn stepped into a normal rowing boat. This immediately resulted in the Belgian singles scull title in 2021. The sky seemed to be the limit, but the inexperienced outdoor rower was unable to qualify for the Tokyo Games. The goal was Paris 2024 anyway.
But the Games still seem a long way off. Last month he only finished sixth in the BK single scull. “It didn’t go as I had hoped, so I wasn’t selected for the European championships.”
“I was very disappointed, so I decided to clear my head. In recent weeks I focused on other things besides rowing.”
Lemmelijn tried out other sports: “That gave me a lot of fun. I could also use all my potential and strength. Something I still can’t do in a rowing boat in tough conditions.”
That bothers him: “It’s frustrating after all the hours I spent in the boat.”
“The past few weeks have been fun, but now it’s time to get back in that boat, enjoy the nice weather and see how I can improve my rowing skills.”
2023-06-06 09:32:26
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