Hodson powers into K1 500m final
22 August 2008
Jen Hodson starred on a grey and rainy Thursday in Beijing as South Africa's sprint canoeists experienced mixed fortunes at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing park.
The sprightly K1 star raced into the final of the women's 500m competition after a spectacular race that saw her edge past a number of medal hopefuls in a very fast semi-final.
'I can't believe it'
"I can't believe it...I made the Olympic final," gushed an ecstatic Hodson afterwards. "I don't know how I held on. My whole body just went dead. I pushed so hard in that last section, and gave it everything I had. It was just vasbyt.
"I felt that I was a bit behind at halfway and I knew that I had to come through at the end," she added. "I thought qualifying for the Olympics would be the hard part and this would be the fun, but these races have been something else altogether."
Hodson said that she had felt unusually apprehensive on her way to the course. "I felt a bit scared this morning, and nervous but, once I started my warm-up, that all went away and was replaced by this feeling of determination."
Supporters
She also heaped thanks on the band of vocal South African supporters in the grandstands. "It felt like all my supporters in the crowd were in the boat with me pushing me on. It's been like that all week, with messages of support - emails and SMSs. In that last 100 metres everyone's energy was pushing me on."
Hodson now has the unique prospect of two finals in two days, as she gears up for the women's K4 final, followed a day later by the blue ribbon women's 500m K1 final on Saturday.
"I am so excited for the K4 final!" enthused Hodson. "I can't wait. The girls are racing so well and I can't wait to see how it goes. We are in the final and we have nothing to lose, so I can't wait!"
Narrow miss
Hodson's excitement countered the disappointment experienced by Shaun Rubenstein, who had to endure a second hairs-breadth semi-final elimination in as many days.
In the 500m men's K1 semi-final he started superbly, was a dominant force for most of the heat, and looked certain to erase the frustrating fourth in the 1000m semis that eliminated him from Friday's final.
However, he battled through the final 100 metres as tournament pacesetter Adam Van Koeverden, and then Anton Ryakhov of Russia and Kenny Wallace of Australia crossed the line ahead of him, bringing an inspirational campaign to a frustrating end.
The tough East rand star walked away from the course with his head high.
'Focussed'
"I was so focussed," he said. "I had a good rhythm. I gave it absolutely everything I've got, and I got to the end shattered. I can be really happy that I raced my guts out, but I just wasn't fast enough. Well done to the other guys."
"It's helluva disappointing," added Rubenstein. "The whole of yesterday, last night, and this morning there wasn't a thought in my mind that I would be standing here saying that I came fourth. But I am really not down. I am proud of myself. I was in with a serious shout in both races, and I know I raced really well."
Rubenstein was also quick to thanks SASCOC, the funding from the national Lottery, his coach, family, and supporters for their ongoing support, and promised them that he was already setting his sights on a medal at London 2012.
K2 women
The K2 crew of Bridgitte Hartley and Michele Eray raced a very fast, competitive women's 500m K2 semi-final, which was a solid ending to a campaign that began only three months ago.
C1 paddler Calvin Mokoto's Olympics came to a joyous end when he completed his 500m C1 semi-final.
"I feel so proud," he said. "Proud for myself and so proud for my country. I have had so much support from my coach Nandor Almasi, who must take all the credit for starting c-boat canoeing in South Africa."
RESULTS
Semi-final One Men's 500m K1
- Adam van Koeverden CAN 1:42.438 QF
- Anton Ryakhov RUS 1:42.968 QF
- Ken Wallace AUS 1:43.340 QF
- Shaun Rubenstein RSA 1:44.154
- Emanuel Silva POR 1:45.985
- Rami Zur USA 1:47.163
- Manuel Cortina MEX 1:48.333
- Jorg Garcia CUB 1:49.077
- Assane Dame Fall SEN 2:04.633
Semi-final Two Men's 500m C1
- Attila Vajda HUN
- Florin Georgian Mironcic ROU
- Pawel Baraszkiewicz POL
- Mark Oldershaw CAN
- Andreas Kiligaridis GRE
- Mikelis Ezmalis LAT
- Torsten Lachmann AUS
- Mikhail Yemeyanov KAZ
- Calvin Mokoto RSA
Semi-final One Women's 500m K1
- Inna Osypenko-Radomska UKR 1:51.558 QF
- Lucy Wainwright GBR 1:52.580 QF
- Jennifer Hodson RSA 1:53.209 QF
- Carrie Johnson USA 1:53.721
- Sofia Paldanius SWE 1:53.797
- Teresa Portela POR 1:54.831
- Chantal Meek AUS 1:54.876
- Malgorzata Chojnacka POL 1:55.619
- Zulmarys Sanchez VEN 2:02.764
Semi-final Women's 500m K2
- Shinobu Kitamoto/Mikiko Takeya JPN 1:43.541 QF
- Anne Rikala /Jenni Mikkonen FIN 1:44.624 QF
- Yvonne Schuring/Viktoria Schwarz AUT 1:44.831 QF
- Beatriz Manchon/Sonia Molanes ESP 1:45.313
- Beatriz Gomes/Helena Rodriguez POR 1:46.021
- Stefania Cicali/Fabiana Sgroi ITA 1:46.163
- Ivana Kmetova/Martina Kohlova SLO 1:46.380
- Michele Eray/Bridgitte Hartley RSA 1:47.018
- Kristin Ann Gauthier/Mylou Barre CAN 1:47.510
Source: Canoeing South Africa
