Australian Olympic Rowing Hopefuls Depart for Destiny

The four Australian boats that are yet to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games have departed Australia ahead of the Olympic Qualification Regatta in Switzerland from May 20-23.

The women’s eight, lightweight men’s double scull and men’s and women’s single sculls will all race at the Regatta in Lucerne, with the hopes of Olympic selection hanging on a favourable result.

The regatta serves as the final chance for all countries to qualify for the London Games and Australia’s four crews will aim to join the ten crews that already gained qualification through their performances at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia.

Stroked by Phoebe Stanley (VIC), the women’s eight crew also contains WAIS athletes Hannah Vermeersch and Alex Hagan alongside; Sally Kehoe (QLD), Sarah Cook (NSW), Tess Gerrand (NSW), Renee Chatterton (SA), Robyn Selby Smith (VIC) and coxen Lizzy Patrick (VIC)..

The Australian boat requires a top two finish in Switzerland, where it will face a five-way race against Germany, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus for the prized possession of an Olympic qualification place for London.

Tom Gibson (TAS) and Rod Chisholm (NSW) also require a top two finish in the lightweight men’s double scull if they are to progress forward to the Olympic regatta to be held at Eton Dorney from July 28.

The task of qualifying the men’s and women’s single scull boats for London fall to Jared Bidwell (QLD) and Kim Crow (VIC), with both athletes after a top three finish in their respective events.

Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said all the crews had completed excellent work at the final camp.

“All of our crews showed some good form during the camp this week and the team is raring to go ahead of the international season,” Matheson said.

“The team has benefitted from this final camp but the prospect of racing is always eagerly anticipated by everyone.

“The four crews competing at the final qualification regatta later this month are fully aware of the challenge they face, but they will be giving it their all.”

Australia’s ten crews who have already qualified for London will leave for Europe this Tuesday (May 15) before they compete at World Cup 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland from May 25-27.

– Rowing Australia