Austria's rowing team is faced with the upheaval: EM in Plowdiw begins!

Austria's rowing team is faced with the upheaval: EM in Plowdiw begins!

Austria's team in the Olympic flat water rowing faces a significant upheaval because the season with the European Championship (EM) in Plowdiw, Bulgaria, is opened. The event will be organized from Thursday to Sunday. ÖRV sports director Kurt Traer states that he wants to get an exact picture of the team, while Lara Tiefenthaler is considered a potential medal chance in lightweight one. A total of five boats are nominated in the general class, with another final entry for Traer being considered satisfactory. Tiefenthaler is the only athlete who has left the two Olympic boats of the past summer regatta in Paris.

With regard to the team composition, some changes have arisen. Louise Altenhuber, who took tenth place in lightweight doubles, took a year break and is now devoting herself to her work as a veterinary doctor. Her colleague Magdalena Lobnig, who has successfully switched to the coastal rudder, can look back on two world championship titles. Paul Ruttmann, world champion in the light two, and Lukas Reim have also made the change to coastal rows, while Julian Schöberl plans to prepare for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and therefore switched to heavyweight. Schöberl was originally planned for the two, but was also planned in the back eighth.

challenges in the eighth

Traer speaks of considerable failures in the eighth team that are due to injuries and study obligations. Five athletes are currently missing, which makes the squad density very thin in the eighth. Nevertheless, there was also positive news: At the Junior Championships in Kruszwica, the team made Bronze-Platz and secured a total of five medals in Olympic boat classes. U19 international Anna Götz praised the team performance, especially in the U23 area of women, which is well positioned. Laura Swoboda and Lisa Zehetmair start in two without at the European Championship and could confirm the trust of the coaches.

For the upcoming competitions, Traer announced the nomination of a women's fourth from the U23 area for the World Cup season in June. A special glance in September in September, which will probably only be filled with a small team.

The historical context of rowing

rowing has a long history at the Olympic Games, where it has been played since 1900. The competition is considered the most demanding in rowing, and at the first Olympic Games in 1896 the rowing competitions had to be canceled due to strong winds. From 1900 to 1972 there were only men's competitions, while women's rowing was considered improper at the time. Women's competitions have only been Olympic since 1976, and the introduction of lightweight boats in 1996.

Overall, the Olympic rowing regatta currently comprises 14 competitive classes, spread over the sexes. From 2020, the goal of gender parity applies in participation, which is important for young people and the further development of sport. The world rudder association (FISA) regulates the implementation of these competitions, including the boat classes and the competition distances. Traditionally, the competition distance has been generally 2000 meters since 1912.

The successes in rowing are impressive, and Germany leads the eternal medal mirror with a total of 65 gold, 31 silver and 30 bronze medals.

Austria's rudder therefore face major challenges, but the spirit of the competition and the constant further development of rowing sports are reasons for optimism. It remains to be seen whether the athletes in Plowdiw can meet their expectations.