The German expectations in the Friday repechage races of the European Championships have hardly been fulfilled. Only the experienced Marie-Louise Dräger was able to really convince, before Alexandra Föster also rowed strongly.
On the wonderfully located regatta course in Oberschleißheim early on Friday morning, the repechage races for those athletes who had ended up in the lower places in the heats the day before were about to make it into the finals.
Women’s double scull fails on Friday morning
Also present in the first disciplines of the women’s double sculls with the two German starters Sophie Leupold and Judith Guhse, who clearly missed one of the first two places and thus the leap into the final.
The duo without a helmswoman then had a similar experience with the experienced Marie-Catherine Arnold and Lena Osterkamp. The newly assembled boat failed miserably in sixth.
Failed in the repechage: Judith Guhse and Sophie Leupold
Women’s quadruple rows into the final
From a German point of view, things didn’t look much better in the larger boats. “Where is the German foursome?” it said in the foursome of women without a helmswoman from the TV commentator. The German team was late and failed, as did the women’s easy quad scull.
The German women’s quadruple sculls then delivered a first sense of achievement, once almost a gold guarantee in major competitions. The German crew rowed their way up to third place in their repechage, which was just enough for a place in the final.
Dräger sovereign in the final
Individual starter Marie-Louise Dräger then used all her experience. The 41-year-old, who is making her last big start at home in Oberschleißheim before heading to the World Championships in September. She rowed her way to second place in the repechage of the lightweight singles, which was enough to get into the final on Sunday.
There was nothing to get for the women’s easy double scull. Johanna and Marion Reichert failed in their run by Poland and France and only finished third, which was not enough for the final.
Föster strong in the semifinals
But the only 20-year-old Alexandra Föster made it through the semi-final run in the women’s one-piece, which is presented to the final in the one-piece and is scheduled for Saturday (13.08.2022) at 10.35 a.m. The U23 world champion from Meschede in the Sauerland clearly won her repechage.
Disappointment for the coxless four
There was then a big disappointment for the German men’s foursome. The boat, which, like the eight, is stationed in the Dortmund rowing training center, failed in its repechage against Switzerland and Romania. Initially in the lead, the German athletes had to let their two rivals tear them down after the 1,000 meter mark, which meant the end.