L i g h t w e i g h t M e n 's P a i r
(www.FISA.org
woensdag 27 augustus 2003)
Only two crews would move onto the final in the first of two repechages
and it was the fast starting Canadians that led the field. These athletes
last raced two days ago and spent yesterday making sure that they were close
to the required weight while keeping their bodies in 100 percent racing form
with short training rows. But Canada's lead was nothing to feel secure about.
Jeroen Spaans and Alwin Snijders, the spares for the four from the Netherlands
never let Canada out of their range. But meanwhile Simon Carcagno and Michael
Altman of the United States were using their superior endurance. Carcagno
had swapped dot.com money and fame to join the ranks of amateur athletes and
the rewards looked to be paying off as the US continued to eat away at the
field. Canada could not hold on. First Altman and Carcagno pushed past, then
Snijders and Spaans. In a close finish the Americans and Dutch qualify from
first and second.
In the second repechage the field was reduced by one entry when Hungary did
not make the required weight. This left Germany, Ireland and Portugal to vie
for two spots and with half the race gone the top two positions were patently
clear. Germany held the lead, followed by Ireland with Portugal missing out
on the A-final.