Difficult day for the German rowers at the home European Championships in Munich-Oberschlussheim. Only individual starter Oliver Zeidler could be really satisfied in the morning.
On his home course, Oliver Zeidler confidently rowed into the semi-finals when, after initial difficulties, he still won his preliminary heat. The 2019 World Champion didn’t miss a beat in the second half of the 2,000 meter distance and overtook the competition, which was initially in front, almost at will. His battle to win the European title will continue in the next rounds on Sunday.
Föster has to go through the repechage
Somewhat surprisingly far behind was U23 World Champion Alexandra Föster, who finished a long way behind. She had to rely on the hope in the afternoon to secure the leap into the targeted semifinals.
The women’s four without a coxswain and the men’s crew without a coxswain also had no chance in their heats, both of which ended up lagging behind. Both had to defer their hopes to the repechage.
Headwind makes for difficult conditions
The regatta course in Oberschleißheim welcomed the athletes with difficult conditions. A gusty headwind, which fortunately came from the front and thus produced the same conditions for everyone, as well as “wobbly” water demanded everything from the starters.
In the early morning, the faces of the German rowing fans were rather embarrassed, because there was hardly anything worth seeing and reporting from a home perspective. In the women’s category, the pair had little chance of reaching the finals, and things looked even worse for the men. No German boat was represented there either in the pair or the double scull. It was once again a clear indication of the current concerns about young talent in German rowing.
No chance in the lead: Judith Guhse and Sophie Leupold in a twosome
Corona virus thins out the German starting field
Added to this was the corona problem, which the German team had hit with full broadside just before the European Championships at home. With the men’s scull and the light scull, two boats had to forego their start due to corona cases. Because the German team was housed together in a shared accommodation, other athletes were absent. For example, individual starter Finn Wolter also had to do without a start in the easy one.
“It’s really a shame and annoying. So far we’ve been spared when it comes to corona diseases in big regattas. The fact that it’s now affecting the home European Championships in Munich is all the more bitter,” said sports director Mario Woldt.