SA Olympic rowers cruise into lightweight double scull semi finals

Rowing looks like Beethoven’s fifth symphony, but inside our heads it’s like Metallica,” Ursula Grobler said after she and Kirsten McCann easily won their heat at the Rio Olympics on Monday.

South Africa’s two lightweight double scull crews — Grobler and McCann and James Thompson and John Smith — and the women’s pair of Kate Christowitz and Lee-Ann Persse advanced to the semifinals.

But the men’s four were unable to finish in the top three, being diverted into the repechage by the French crew they beat at the Olympic qualifying regatta in May.

That means four SA boats, including the men’s pair from Saturday, are in the semifinals of this wind-swept rowing competition.

 “I thought we handled the conditions well, but we always knew what we were coming here for,” said Smith.

“We’re going to get the cross wind. Rowers don’t always enjoy the cross wind, but we knew what we were getting into and we’ve been practising a lot in it.”

A strong wind forced the cancellation of Sunday’s rowing, but Thompson believed that it was unusual.

“The wind we’ve seen today is the predominant wind, from the right-hand side through the middle.

“I think what we had yesterday and the day before was more of an anomaly, I think we’ll see this wind more during the week.”

Smith and Thompson, the only survivors of the lightweight four boat that won gold at London 2012, had a rudder installed in their boat to help them cope with the Rio wind.

Being used to sweep oar — using a single — they aren’t as proficient at sculling — using two blades — where the boat is usually steered by pulling harder on one side.

“I think we’re the only crew with a rudder in our boat,” said Smith. “It’s not generally had but we thought we’re going to get great benefit from it and it pays dividends — we don’t have to pull harder on one side.

“We just have to pull the same on both sides. But it’s still not easy out there.”

Added Thompson: “I haven’t had to think about the steering once  … but coming from a sweep oar background where rudders are used, we’re a little more accustomed to using it [the rudder].”

McCann and Grobler, without a rudder because they are more experienced scullers, said they were unfazed by the cross wind.

“One of our pre-Olympic camps was in pretty rough water,” said McCann.

“We’re just going to roll with it,” added Grobler. “We’ve had incredible training in all conditions. Just bring it on, whatever it is.”

The duo were in control throughout their heat, and they weren’t pushed to the limits, but even so, it was still a grind, said Grobler.

“I’ve always said rowing looks like Beethoven’s fifth symphony, but inside our heads it’s like Metallica.”

And it was going to get tougher, added McCann.

“We went out the start pretty hard and then we can assess through the race and obviously we’re not having to wind it for the line when we are in the lead like we were.

“But we know that it’s very seldom that we have  race like that and we’re preparing for a pretty ruthless semi on Wednesday.”​

- TMG Digital