Melvin Twellaar will start next weekend in the Italian Piediluco in the double sculls with his old buddy Stef Broenink. The Groningen rower, who was particularly successful in the single scull last year, expects a greater chance of winning the Olympic title in the two-seater.
Melvin Twellaar is looking forward to the first international showdown, this weekend in Piediluco, Italy. ,,I have trained well in recent months and I am looking forward to the competition”, says the Aegir rower.
The triumphal march of Twellaar and Broenink also started in Piediluco three years ago, when they more or less coincidentally started there together in the double twos. The international competition Memorial Paolo D Aloja in Piediluco this year will also be a first important indicator of how Twellaar and Broenink are together again in the double sculls compared to their foreign competitors.
Exciting racing
,,We haven’t sailed a real race together for a long time”, Twellaar explains. In 2021 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo they rowed their last competition together. They finished second after an exciting race, 0.2 seconds behind the French.
Last season, Broenink gave priority to his studies and Twellaar stepped into the single scull. He was particularly successful in this, including the European title and silver at the world championships. After these good results, the expectation of many was that the pedagogy student would continue his career in the single scull. ,,The coaching staff expects that the chances of winning a title in double sculls are greater than in single sculls.”
Brief hesitation
When asked if he wouldn’t have preferred to continue in the single scull, a short hesitation follows. ,,Euh, if I had been the best by far last year, it would have been a pity. Stef is also super good and then you can also combine both forces in the double scull. We have a good click and that is important in the double sculls. We have both improved on the ergometer and things are going well in the boat as well. Somehow I think it’s nice that we get a second chance to win gold at the Olympics. I’m still relatively young (26 years old, ed.) And after Paris I can still try in the single scull.”
The international competition in Piediluco is a first test for the Dutch rowing team to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. National coach Eelco Meenhorst sees it as a great competition to try things out.
Starting tickets for the Games
The European Championships at the end of May are the first peak moment for rowers. During the world championships in early September, the starting tickets for the Games in Paris must be earned. In addition to Twellaar, the Groningen women Marloes Oldenburg (four-without), Ilse Kolkman (double four) and Ymkje Kolkman two-without) will also start in Italy.