Vermeersch and Hagan Realise Olympic Dream
WAIS athletes Hannah Vermeersch and Alex Hagan have helped the Australian women’s eight crew qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games following a superb victory at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The Phoebe Stanley (VIC) stroked crew rowed from Lane 3 and started well to sit fractionally behind Belarus through 500m before powering away from the field to secure their place for London in a time of 6:12.36.
The Australian crew also featuring Sally Kehoe (QLD), Alexandra Hagan (WA), Tess Gerrand (NSW), Sarah Cook (NSW), Hannah Vermeersch (WA), Renee Chatterton (SA), Robyn Selby Smith (VIC) and coxen Lizzy Patrick (VIC) finished a length clear of Germany, who came home strongly to secure the last qualification place for London.
Shortly after the race Kehoe said the victory was just the next step for the crew on a journey that would now last another two months.
“It is a very different feeling to four years ago,” Kehoe said. “This time round we have really earned our position and fought to be here.
“We were not a priority boat but being the under dogs is working for us so far.”
The youngest member of the crew, 19-year-old Hannah Vermeersch, described the emotions after crossing the line.
“It means so much to me,” Vermeersch said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be going to London.
“Rio was always my goal but Alex (Hagan) and I had something special in the pair earlier this year and look where we ended up.
“When we crossed the line there were so many different emotions but it was an awesome effort from everyone and we were all ecstatic.”
Coach of the women’s eight crew, Nick Garratt, said he was proud of the way the crew had approached both races at the regatta.
“I couldn’t be happier with how the girls have performed across the last three days but this is just the start for them,” Garratt said. “They have an Olympics to prepare for now.
“They always knew the other crews would throw down the challenge early in the race today, but they stuck to their plan and then finished the job superbly.”
Just 12 hours after booking their place at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Australian women’s eight coach Nick Garratt has confirmed his crew will race at World Cup 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland this weekend (May 25-27).
The women’s eight crew, who only formed as a final combination in late April, continued their fairy tale run to the London Games last night by winning the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Switzerland.
Garratt revealed that despite the obvious joy within the group, the important thing was to get in as much racing as possible.
“The more racing we get as a group now the better so we will head to Lake Spach for some long easy kilometres tomorrow before returning to prepare for the World Cup,” Garratt said.
Garratt once again commended the effort of his crew in their short preparation for the crucial regatta.
“Early on in our training program we identified several key points necessary to adapt to the fastest moving boat class.
“The whole squad readily accepted the challenges and in some ways the short campaign helped instil a sense of urgency in everything we did.
“It was a great performance and hopefully will be an inspirational result for all women rowers in Australia.”
– Rowing Australia