SA canoeists impress in Olympic heats
19 August 2008
The South African Olympic canoeing campaign got off to a solid start on the first day of heats at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Monday, with all three of the boats securing semi-final qualifications, topped off by the best ever showing by the women's K4, which secured a vital direct qualification into the women's 500m K4 final.
For a crew accustomed to sluggish starts, the South African foursome of Carol Joyce, Nikki Mocke, Michèle Eray, and Jen Hodson blitzed out of the starting gates, alongside the fancied German and Chinese crews, knowing that a top-three finish would enable them to bypass the semi-final on Wednesday and go straight into the final.
Nemesis beaten
In the second half, the German and Chinese boats pulled ahead, and the South African women were left to race their nemesis, Italy, who had managed to beat them in every outing this season.
However, when it came time to kick, the South African were up to it and they dropped the Italians in the endsprint to claim third.
"It was the best race we have ever raced, ever," Mocke said afterwards. "Now we can move onto the final and race even better, because we believe that we can do even better."
"Normally in my peripheral vision at the start I get this feeling of a vacuum, as we get pushed a bit backwards," said Eray, who sits in the front of the K4. "Today there was none of that. The red Chinese boat was right there and, if anything, we gained on them in the first 50 metres," she added.
Massive significance
The third place and a direct route into the final have massive significance for the team as two of the athletes are committed to other events.
Jen Hodson can now focus on her key 500 metres K1 race without worrying about having to recover from a K4 semi-finals on Wednesday, while Eray has the same pressure off her shoulders in the K2 challenge with Bridgitte Hartley.
"It's the best thing that could have happened," said Hodson. "I was really worried about having to pick myself up for six successive days, but now I will have Wednesday off completely, relaxing and preparing for my semi-final."
"You have no idea what this means to the four of us," she added. "We have put in so much work. We are South African women paddlers. We have done it for everyone at home to prove that women can do it, and that they can get here."
Men's 1 000 metres K1
Men's 1 000 metres K1 contender Shaun Rubenstein paddled within himself to post a fifth in the heat, and with it a place in Wednesday's semi-finals. The heat was won by world champion Tim Brabants in a blisteringly fast time of 3 minutes 27 seconds.
Rubenstein pulled up to fourth midway through the heat, and said afterwards that he was pleased to finally start racing after weeks of tapering and waiting.
"My whole strategy today was just to find a nice rhythm," said Rubenstein. "I didn't want to put in too much or get too excited. Now it is down to the semi-final on Wednesday. I will have to raise my game for that one for sure!"
He added that he experienced some emotion going down to the starting line. "Obviously there is a lot of background that goes into getting to the Olympics, so that obviously adds up to how you are feeling when you get onto the water."
C1 first for SA
Calvin Mokoto is also through to the 1 000 metres C1 semi-finals after racing the first ever South African C-boat at the Olympic Games. The 19-year-old Wattville resident from the Gauteng East Rand started paddling in 2005 and has risen through to international recognition in double-quick time.
"I was nervous at the start, but mostly about my start, which is so critical in a C1," said Mokoto. "But I managed to get a good start and I am happy with my race.
"It is a huge thing for me to be here. It is impossible to explain. It is gripping.
"Sometimes I start to feel lucky just to be here, but then I realise that I deserve it, and it is part of my plan to keep improving my performance for London 2012."
RESULTS
Men's 1 000 Metres
K1 Heat One
- Tim Brabants GBR 3:27.828
- Zoltan Benko HUN 3:29.542
- Markus Oscarsson SWE 3:30.044
- Emanuel Silva POR 3:31.843
- Shaun Rubenstein RSA 3:36.134
- Dmitry Torpolov RUS 3:39.671
- Manuel Cortina MEX 3:41.433
- Tayzra Phone Myint MYA 3:53.578
- Assane Dane Fall SEN 4:07.061
Men's C1 1 000 metres
Heat three
- David Cal ESP 3:58.756
- Andreas Dittmer GER 4:00.505
- Aldo Pruna CUB 4:02.351
- Thomas Hall CAN 4:05.198
- Andreas Kiligardidis GRE 4:18.488
- Iurii Cheban UKR 4:23.188
- Calvin Mokoto RSA 4:33.887
Women's K4 500 metres
Heat One
- Germany 1:33.912
- China 1:36.971
- South Africa 1:37.399
- Italy 1:37.436
- Japan 1:38.618
Source: Canoeing South Africa
