What a shorter race at the Olympics means for New Zealand rowers

RNZ News

6 hours ago

Rowing at the Tokyo Olympics
Photo:
Steve McArthur PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand has a strong history in 1500 metres at the Olympics, but it's not in rowing.
For the first and possibly only time, the Los Angeles 2028 rowing regatta will be raced over 1500 metres rather than the usual 2000 metres.
Organisers of the games decided that the Olympic rowing regatta would be held at the Long Beach Marine Stadium, the venue for the 1932 Olympics.
The other possibility was a site 110km away, but costs and impact on the environment made it a less desirable option.
The problem with the Long Beach Stadium is that since 1932 a bridge has been built at one end while marinas have also been added, reducing the usable length to 1500m.
At the time of the decision the World Rowing Federation said, "It will require some adaptation, for the athletes in the first place, but it shows our ability to adapt without changing the core nature of our sport."
They felt that being closer to the city allowed the sport and fans to feel closer to the Olympics.
So what does it means for New Zealand rowers?
New Zealand has been one of the most successful nations at the last four Olympics and in Tokyo finished as the top ranked nation with three gold and two silver medals.
Rowing New Zealand's GM of Performance Judith Hamilton said the plan was reluctantly agreed to at the time, but the decision did give everyone enough time to plan.
"We do a number of in-house races at that distance so it's not an issue to us," Hamilton told RNZ.
Will a change of race plan or athlete training be required?
"The tactics and the strategy on how you attack a race will change so it's how we get our athletes used to that.
"There will certainly be more emphasis on being powerful. Really efficient and higher rating athletes will probably have an advantage."
The Marine Stadium Long Beach venue for the LA28 rowing regatta.
Photo:
SUPPLIED / LA28
However, there isn't anything that Rowing New Zealand will have to change immediately.
"I'm not expecting we'll see that really until year three of the Olympic cycle (2027) when it comes to qualification."
Even the final Olympic qualifying regatta which will be held in 2028 will be raced over 2000m.
"So it's a little bit of an enigma but it has been well publicised so everyone knows what they're up for."
Rowing is New Zealand's most successful sport at the Olympics with a total of 33 medals including 15 gold.
The only medal won by New Zealand at the 1932 games in LA was in rowing, while New Zealand won a gold and bronze medal in the 1984 games in the city.