3 June 2021

By Göran R Buckhorn

Today, the first day of the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy, offered ideal conditions for racing with flat water, sun and mild temperatures.

In the PR1 Women’s Single Sculls, the women were racing for lanes for the final on Saturday. Four boats showed up at the start line, Algeria, Italy, Brazil and Sweden. Missing was Aleksandra Ladaniuk of Russia.

Claudia Cicero dos Santos Sabino of Brazil, Laura Morato of Italy and Ebba Einarsson of Sweden went quickly off at the start, while Nedjoua Gharbi of Algeria was lagging behind. Sabino took an early lead, followed by Morato and Einarsson. The Brazilian sculler was first over the finish line followed by Italy, then Sweden and Algeria. It later showed that Sabino rowed in an “underweight boat”, which demoted Sabino to last position.

In the first heat of PR1 Men’s Single Sculls, Jaroslaw Kailing of Poland, who placed eighth at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, crossed the finish line ahead of Argentina, France and Kenya. Germany’s Marcus Klemp won the second heat ahead of Italy, Hungary and Sudan. Qualified for the A final are Poland and Germany.

After a good fight with Canada, Italy crossed the line as the winners of the first heat in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls. In the second heat, Australia led from start to finish. Thereby, Italy and Australia went directly to the A final in this boat class.

In the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four Canada secured one spot in the A final by winning the first heat. The second heat was won by Germany after a close race with Spain. Canada and Germany went directly to the A final.