If Sanita Puspure qualifies for her fourth Olympics by Tuesday’s midday, it’ll mark a significant achievement not just for her, but also for Irish rowing. Three Irish teams participated in the ultimate Olympic Qualifying Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland. They all maintain a realistic shot at Paris in Tuesday’s culminating event, led predominantly by the 42-year-old Puspure.
In the 2012 London Olympics, Puspure competed in her maiden Olympics in the women’s single sculls, with hers as the only Irish team to qualify. By Tuesday lunch, it’s anticipated that a record number of Irish teams would have qualified via Rowing Ireland.
Puspure, a member of the Old Collegians Boat Club, repeated her Sunday heat’s accomplishment by triumphing in Monday’s semi-finals, outpacing 20-year-old Swiss rower, Aurelia-Maxima Janzen, by one-and-a-half lengths in the women’s singles. There are three slots for the Olympics in the final, with one slot reserved for a nation yet to secure qualification for Paris; Puspure is expected to be in the top two comfortably. The ex-double World Champion in singles exhibited her reigning supremacy following her stint in the double and four classes.
Konan Pazzaia, a 23-year-old Swiss-born rower, also has an equal opportunity in the men’s singles. Despite ranking third in his semi-final, after Norway’s Tokyo silver medalist Kjetil Borch and Romania’s Mihai Chiruta, the Queen’s University Belfast Boat Club rower holds onto some hope for Paris. Known as the “Regatta of Death,” the last Olympic Qualifying Regatta is notoriously severe.
The women’s four, having already progressed from Sunday’s initial race with six crews deciding the final lane draws, are also in the running for a top two position. Following a narrow defeat to Denmark, they stand a good chance.
After a late qualification for the Tokyo games resulted in securing bronze medals, soaring expectations surround the foursome comprising Imogen Magner, Eimear Lambe, Natalie Long, and Emily Hegarty. Ireland has already gained qualification for six boats in the Paris games; including both the women’s and men’s pairs and doubles, along with two lightweight doubles.
The itinerary for Tuesday’s finals (all times in Irish standard) are as follows: Women’s Four Final commences at 9:50 am; Men’s Single A Final starts at 11:40 am; and Women’s Single A Final begins at 11:58 am.