With no top-of-the podium Canadian results Wednesday, and pending swim prodigy Penny Oleksiak鈥檚 opportunity tonight, there is a chance Victoria rowers Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee could become the first Canuck gold medallists of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics on Friday.
If it happens, it will be via a heavily condensed timetable. The rowing schedule was again thrown into disarray when Wednesday broke in Rio under glowering skies and high winds, forcing the postponement of the day鈥檚 rowing races. It was the second such postponement, after Sunday was also wiped out.
Jennerich and Obee won their delayed opening race Monday to advance to the women鈥檚 lightweight doubles semifinals, which were slotted for Wednesday. Now they will be raced this morning, weather permitting, with the final still scheduled for Friday.
鈥淚 much prefer the longer regattas,鈥� said Obee, heading into the Games.
鈥淚t is nice to get some time to relax between races and it means you can give a bit more into each race with all the rest time between them.鈥�
Well, the Stelly鈥檚 Secondary and University of Washington Huskies grad will not get that in Rio. But after the disaster at the London 2012 Olympics, when Obee and Claremont Secondary and UVic Vikes-grad Jennerich failed to make the final after winning silver at the 2011 world championships, this duo seems to be in a good place mentally.
鈥淚 feel a sense of calm,鈥� said Obee.
It was contamination in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, not high wind, that was supposed to be the issue in rowing in Rio. Victoria-based Rowing sa国际传媒 prepared for every contingency it could imagine 鈥� even wrapping the water bottles inside plastic bags in case lagoon water splashed inside the boats.
Rowing sa国际传媒 also made the decision not to house their competitors in the Athletes Village, which is a hairy, traffic-congested two-hour drive from the rowing venue, but instead at a hotel in Ipanema near the venue. Even weather delays are prepared for because rowing people, more than those in most sports, know they are at the mercy of nature in an outdoor sport based on large bodies of water.
Also postponed Wednesday was the men鈥檚 four semifinals featuring the Elk Lake-based Canadian crew, which was fourth at the 2015 world championships, and has a chance at the podium in Rio. The repechage for the Canadian women's eight 鈥� with Caileigh Filmer and Christine Roper of Victoria and UVic Vikes product Antje von Seydlitz of Terrace 鈥� was also affected.
Wednesday was also a day of hurry up and wait for other Islanders at the Rio Games.
An entire week of Olympic swimming has passed before Hilary Caldwell of Victoria finally jumps into the Rio pool today for the qualifying races in the women鈥檚 200-metre backstroke. But she鈥檚 used to it, as her event traditionally is held latter-week during the Olympics and world championships.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always hard waiting to Day 6 of swimming,鈥� said Caldwell, who has won a bronze medal at the world championships.
But after her Olympic debut at London 2012, she knows what to expect in Rio.
鈥淚n London, I had no Olympic experience. A lot has happened in four years, and I鈥檓 not happy just to go to the Olympics. I鈥檓 definitely looking to be on the podium. I know it鈥檚 not going to be easy. But once you鈥檝e been to an Olympics, you know what the pressure is like and what to expect.鈥�
She will step into the starting blocks today without the guidance of her celebrated coach Randy Bennett of Victoria, who died of cancer last year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 weird not having Randy [here] and to see it,鈥� said Caldwell.
鈥淲e [fellow Victoria swimmer Ryan Cochrane, who goes for gold this weekend in the men鈥檚 1,500 metres] are obviously going to miss Randy for the rest of our lives. But we鈥檙e going to use all the strength that we got from him. We want to do it for Randy and we definitely want to make him proud.鈥�
Coach Ryan Mallette, Bennett鈥檚 former assistant, has taken over the Victoria high-performance program at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had a year under Ryan [Mallette] and he has done such a great job under difficult circumstances and with such big shoes to fill. It has not been easy, but he has done amazingly well.鈥�
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