Achter still has to deliver
The defeated quadruple four is at least going to Paris
September 9, 2023, 5:11 p.m
The World Rowing Championships in Belgrade are certainly not a festival for the German Rowing Association. Everything takes a lot of effort. But every now and then there are a few bright spots, every now and then the athletes collect Olympic tickets. Medals seem out of reach.
The men’s double sculls of the German Rowing Association (DRV) were unable to improve their Olympic qualification at the World Championships in Belgrade. In the final of the title fights in Serbia, coach Dirk Brockmann’s DRV quartet finished last in the first of only three finals with German participation in the Netherlands’ victory, over eleven seconds behind.
This meant that Anton Finger and Moritz Wolf from Berlin as well as Max Appel from Magdeburg and Tim Ole Naske from Hamburg, who had only qualified for the semi-finals via the repechage run, clearly missed out on the first World Cup medal for the DRV in their discipline in eight years. In 2015 in France, the DRV men’s double sculls even won the title.
Meanwhile, on the penultimate day of the title fights in Serbia, the German women’s double sculls at least got the next DRV ticket for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Despite missing the final, Sarah Wibberenz (Brandenburg), Frauke Hundeling (Hannover), Pia Greiten (Osnabrück) and Tabea Schendekehl (Dortmund) confidently qualified for the Olympics with their victory in the B final. At the finish, coach Marcin Witkowski’s crew had a lead of over two seconds over the second-placed boat from Ukraine.
Can the eighth place get the fourth ticket on Sunday?
However, the lightweight men’s double scull and the coxless four are returning from the Balkans with their Olympic hopes unfulfilled. Both boats did not come anywhere close to the victory needed for the Paris ticket in their B finals.
The German eight is set to take the fourth Olympic starting spot for the DRV on Sunday. To qualify for Paris, the flagship, which was significantly rejuvenated after winning Olympic silver two years ago, must finish at least fifth. A medal for the crew around batsman Matthias Schönherr, who missed direct entry into the final in the preliminary round, would be a surprise.
Defending champion Oliver Zeidler, however, has also firmly planned for precious metal in the singles final on Sunday. The Munich native, who has already qualified for Paris, is aiming for his third World Cup triumph in Belgrade.
The DRV is hoping for a total of six to seven boats to take part in the 14 Olympic classes in Paris. There will be further opportunities to increase the German Olympic contingent next spring at the end of April in Szeged, Hungary, and in the second half of May at the Rotsee Regatta in Lucerne.