Zhang Xiuyun won the first heat of the day and posted the fastest time in the women’s single scull to get China’s Olympic rowing campaign off to a good start yesterday.
China’s double also won after holding off a fast-finishing Czech Republic crew, with the host nation’s competitors being urged on by a thunderous roar from the crowd of “China, China.”
Favorites from Australia, New Zealand and Britain also progressed smoothly into the next round in the hot and humid conditions on Lake Shunyi.
Competitors said changing winds, as well as the heat, sometimes made things difficult, but not any worse than expected.
“It was hot,” said Britain’s Alan Campbell, a favorite for a medal in the men’s single. “Hotter than a European race, but we’ve trained in this for the last week and we were more than prepared for what was to come.”
New Zealand enjoyed wins for their men’s and women’s double scull and women’s single, while their four were just pipped for second by the Netherlands. Australia’s experienced men’s pair of Drew Ginn and Duncan Free won comfortably with their traditionally long and relaxed style, while their men’s four and double also posted good wins.
Britain’s men’s four, double and single won in fast times to set up a good showdown in those events later in the week.
All the favorites moved comfortably into the next round in the women’s single scull. As well as Zhang winning her heat in the fastest time, the strong favorite Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus also qualified for the quarter-final comfortably.
In the men’s event, New Zealand’s three-time world champion Mahe Drysdale won with clear water, despite looking somewhat labored, to join favorites Campbell, Norway’s Olaf Tufte and Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic in the next round.
Earlier a diesel generator used to create the underwater bubbles that formed the finish line overheated, but did not delay any of the races.
The billowing, black smoke was noticeable during the women’s pair heats at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. The generator was on the grandstand side, not close enough to the fans or the water to cause any concern. The bubbling finish line, however, was eliminated.
Bike riders continued pedaling on the path in front of the blue generator — decorated with Olympic rings — and firefighters quickly brought the situation under control.
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