Miroslav Vraštil (front) and Jiří Šimánek on the track of the semifinals of the lightweight double skiff at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Leah Millis, Reuters
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It was a wild ride. The program of rowing competitions was interrupted for two days by a bad forecast, but the strong wind did not avoid the Sea Forrest Way racetrack even on Wednesday. “In worse conditions, I probably didn’t race on a double skiff,” Vraštil admitted. kept in track, “he described.
Not all of them managed the difficult conditions, the Norwegian double skiff heading for the advance rolled over before the finish line and a lifeboat was driving behind both rowers. “I just saw the oars in the air peripherally and that they are no longer next to us. It doesn’t happen very often, “Šimánek reported.
Vraštil and Šimánek are in the Olympic finals on a double weight fair
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The Czechs were still fifth in the middle of the race, but they reached the finals with an overwhelming finish. “And the emotions are incredible. We really wanted it, it’s a big deal, “Šimánek shone. He starts in the Games for the first time in 25 years, his 38-year-old partner is already experiencing the third Olympics. remained forbidden.
“We rode with the Vetešník brothers and Jirka Kopáč, we were very ambitious and always wanted to win. When something went wrong, the whole group made a note of it, “he admits. They started riding with Šimánek four years ago. “he could have been proud of himself, his partner, and my family was proud of me. If I saw it like that at twenty, maybe a medal would ring,” he smiles.
At the same time, competition increased properly after the double skiff remained the only lightweight discipline in the Olympic program. “It’s unbelievable, the qualification here is very cruel. We are physically excellent in comparison with other sports, but for example, the Irish are even better at it, it borders on superhumanity, “admits Vraštil, who also has successful triathlon Ironmans.
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Now the Czechs have been rewarded for hard work, but also starvation inextricably linked to light weights. The weight average of the pair must be 70 kilograms before each ride. And in Tokyo, Vraštil and Šimánek waited four days for their semifinals due to the transfer of races. “For example, I lose 600 grams and it’s also a mess. The body gets busy, we are like wrestlers, we put on clothes and sweat, “describes Šimánek.” Everyone is also looking forward to the races, they eat well and they will be sick, “laughs Vraštil.
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