I was in high school when i first started rowing and it's been almost a year that i'm rowing when the '96 Atlanta Olympics has started. Our coach came with a TV, casette and a video tape player in the training day and brought us together in our rowing house. He said "You should all watch it". It was a recording of that race. Because of the lack of broadcasting it's hard to follow every sports that time and rowing was not so popular sport in the place i'm living. Somehow he could recorded it. Thomas Lange was very popular and also i like to watch Iztopk Cop and Derek Porter's races as well. And Xeno Müller was someone we don't have any idea until that time. So race started and we were discussing each other T. Lange or D. Porter gonna win the race. In the last 500m our coach smiled us and said "Now watch carefully". We hold our breath and watched how X. Müller get ahead of those rowers in the last 500m with a "superhuman" effort! I remember like yesterday how we all shocked with my teammates. We were 2 months away from our big race and it was very inspired us to make a difference and how we should put all our efforts in! I keep on rowing next 3 years. When i was waiting my line in the races i've participated in, i've always trying the remember of that "last 500m moment" and told to myself "Do like Xeno Müller". Well, generally it didnt work and couldnt win important races:) But pushed me do my best. Now i'm 40 years old, we are still keep in touch with my ex teammates and every olympics we share and watch that video with the same excitement of the first day. It was one of the most inspirational moment i've witnessed.
People who have never really gotten serious about rowing will never understand the intensity. Being a runner over 30 years then a rower for 15 before I had to quit I would say that changing to rowing completely shocked me. It's a whole other level of pain at high levels. Feels like every single muscle is burning, every molecule in your body is shouting STOP at the top of it's voice but you have to be mentally strong enough to keep going. That's where the real battle is - in your mind. Can you over come the pain? On several occasions shortly after a race I was one the floor writhing and feeling like throwing up. That's the intensity you get with rowing. Wish I could go back in time. But alas, time is against us all. Another long race...
Most amazing race so demanding for essentially 2000 meter almost 7 minute sprint. Clearly not the favorite Xeno takes the gold going away fierce determination all over his face.
You are very kind, when I watch it frame by frame I see where I could have gotten more speed out of the way I use my body. I hope you are having a great weekend. Xeno
Ксено на финишной 500 ке как от стоячих уходит и от немца и от канадца, при этом и на третьей пятистоке сократил отставание. Проиграл на первой тысяче около 2 секунд на второй части выиграл 6 ! Это очень прилично, особенно когда в заезде опытный и титулованный Томас Ланге.
Hi Rowers, This October 28 at 5PM pacific time we are having a meet and greet on Google+ We will look at the men's single scull and men's eight final of the 2012 Olympics. Here is the URL to our event! Join us it is open to everyone.
