Rowing World Championships: Skarstein, Horrie move to finals

The semi-final heats at the World Rowing Championships were not only opportunities to advance into Thursday’s (3 September) finals, but also for para-rowers to secure qualification spots for their countries at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Events in the AS women and men’s single sculls, as well as the mixed coxed four, continued on Wednesday (2 September) in Aiguebelette, France.

AS women's single sculls (ASW1x) – Semi-finals

Two semi-final heats took place, with the top three in each advancing to the finals.

Great Britain’s Rachel Morris, Norway’s Birgit Skarstein and Italy’s Eleanora De Paolis were the first three to land their spots. Morris and Skarstein were in a class of their own, finishing with more than a 20-second gap ahead of the other rowers. Morris, who finished fifth at last year's Worlds, won the heat in 5:25, a three-second lead over reigning world champion Skarstein.

Israel’s Moran Samuel looked comfortable in the second semi-finals, recording the fastest qualifying time overall at 5:20 to move into the finals. Brazil’s Claudia Santos and Belarus’ Liudmila Vauchok will join Samuel on Thursday.

With Brazil already holding a qualification slot for Rio 2016 as a host nation, the other five scullers have secured qualifying slots for their National Paralympic Committees (NPCs).

“Rio means everything,” said Samuel, who just missed the podium at the London 2012 Paralympics. “In London, I lost a medal by one second. So in Rio, I wanted to get better and to fight for the medals. My family is here [in Aiguebelette]. [Qualifying for Rio] is a dream come true.”

AS wen's single sculls (ASM1x) – Semi-finals

Australia’s defending world champion Erik Horrie won his respective semi-final, pulling away with a near seven-second gap over second-place finisher Ukraine’s Igor Bondar. Bondar last raced internationally in 2013, and was followed up by British 2008 Paralympic champion Tom Aggar.

Russia’s London 2012 bronze medallist Alexey Chuvashev took off at a fast pace to capture his heat. Chuvashev has been a regular medallist but has yet to capture that elusive gold. The margins were close with five seconds separating the first and third-place finishers. The USA’s Steven Haxton and the Netherlands’ Alexander van Holk snuck in, respectively.

“It is excellent to qualify the boat for Australia,” Horrie said. “I feel fine for the final. The opposition is stepping up. It is good for our sport.”

Mixed Coxed Four (LTAMix4+) – Semi-finals

The world and Paralympic champions Great Britain, who also own the world best time, have not lost a race since 2012 and proved why on Wednesday, winning the 1,000m course in 3:22. Italy and Ukraine qualified their crew into the finals.

The United States won their heat, with a two-second edge over Canada. South Africa landed the other finals spot after coming in third.

The USA clocked in a similar time to Great Britain, setting up an interesting showdown for Thursday’s finals.

“It is exciting to have done this for our country next year,” the USA’s Danielle Hansen said about qualifying her country for Rio 2016 in the sporting class. “We are focused on the final and we will think about Rio (after).”

Complete results can be found on World Rowing’s website.