VERY CLOSE TO UNROWABLE
to that of the Serbian men’s pair who sank shortly after the halfway mark, where the wind cuts through a gap in the surrounding hills.
“The general rule you usually use (for suspending racing) is white caps – we’ve got breaking waves out there,” raged Australian single sculls world champion Kim Brennan, after losing her two-year unbeaten record. “I was pretty close to sinking, which is an indication the course is not rowable. I was left in a boat full of water.”
Furious New Zealand rival Emma Twigg asked: “At what point is it about the athlete?”
Egypt’s Nadia Negm looked traumatised as she came off the water, warning: “If you are rowing this week you better know how to swim. I was 100 per cent sure I was going to sink.”
She will not want to know that the forecast is for stronger winds on the next three days of racing – with the warning of further disruption. Rowing chief Matt Smith insisted the course “was rowable” yesterday and told competitors: “You have to be ready for all conditions”.
Sir Matt Pinsent appeared to agree when tweeting: “Got to deal with what you got given. It’s the Olympics, this is the day. Rough, smooth, hot, windy?? just win it.”
Grainger adopted that mindset to book a semi-final spot with Victoria Thornley and keep alive hopes of a fifth Olympic medal.