Press Release for Lucerne round

The finals of the 1997 Rowing World Cup take place in Lucerne this weekend (11-13 July) with 26 Atlanta Olympic gold medalists and 71 Atlanta medalists competing for a record 41 nations entered.

Boats to Watch:

• Men's Coxless Four - Four time Olympic gold medalist Steven Redgrave and double Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent line-up for their 106th race together. Their winning streak in their main competition boat (the coxless pair until this year) now stands at 67 consecutive wins. The British World Cup leaders will go against the French team which includes three of the 1993 world champions; Jean-Christophe Rolland, Michel Andrieux and Daniel Fauche. This crew gave GBR a strong challenge in Paris, losing by only 0.77 seconds. The Italians are back as well with three rowers from the 1994 and 1995 World Championship crew.
• Men's Single Sculls - Itzok Cop (SLO), current World Cup leader, had yet another strong challenge in Paris from the rapidly improving Ali Ibrahim Ali (EGY) who pushed Cop to within 1.2 seconds. Andre Willms (GER), Atlanta gold medalist, is back after surgery. The two Sartori brothers from Italy will join the World Cup in Lucerne rowing in single sculls.
• Women's Single Sculls - 1996 Olympic gold medalist and World Cup leader Katya "Chocolatovich" Khodotovich (BLR) faces a new test in Lucerne from Kathrin Rutschow (GER), Atlanta gold medalist from the quadruple sculls. The competition also includes '95 world champion Maria Brandin (SWE), '94 world champion Trine Hansen (DEN) as well as the US Trials winner Monica Tranel-Michini, 1995 world champion in the eight.
• Men's Double Sculls - World Cup leaders Kjetil Undset and Steffen Storseth (NOR) will take on the Olympic gold medalists from the quadruple in Atlanta and Paris winners, Andreas Hajek and Stephen Volkert (GER) in a showdown to decide the winner of the double sculls World Cup. The Australians have entered the brothers Duncan and Marcus Free. Duncan was an Olympic bronze medalist from the quadruple in Atlanta. Samuel Barathay and Frederic Kowal (FRA) bronze medalists from Atlanta are back together in the double in Lucerne.
• Women's Coxless Pairs - There is currently a three way tie at 8 points for World Cup leadership in this boat class. Romania has two gold medalists from the Atlanta eight rowing in this event. They are tied with the Russians and the Germans. An outside prospect is the British crew of Dot Blackie and Cath Bishop, second in Paris.
• Women's Lightweight Double Sculls - This event is wide open. The Knejp sisters, Monika and Kristina, (SWE) were surprise winners in Paris. Michelle Darville and Angelika Brand (GER) are tied at 12 points with Lene Andersson and Anna Helleberg (DEN) for the overall lead .
• Men's Quadruple Sculls - The World Cup leaders from Belarus will have a tough battle with the Munich winners from Germany back in Lucerne. The Henley winners from the USA make their first World Cup appearance including silver medalist Brian Jamieson and former single sculler Cyrus Beasley. Netherlands will also provide strong opposition with the two Atlanta gold medalists Simon Diederik and Michiel Bartmann on board.
• Men's Eights - The Australian eight which includes Drew Ginn, a member of the well known Atlanta gold medal winners "Oarsome Foursome", were clear winners in Paris. The German eight, winners in Munich, have moved in some of the Atlanta silver medal winners in their bid to take back the victory podium.

The Rowing World Cup features Championship-style racing with an exciting Finals timetable. The Rowing World Cup concentrates on the fourteen Olympic boat classes. Nations may only enter two boats per event. Germany is the overall leader after two events with 139 points, followed by Great Britain (73), France (55), Romania (54), Denmark (46), and Belarus (45).

The Lucerne regatta starts on Friday, 11 July at 10:00 hrs with the Rowing World Cup final races on Sunday, 13 July from 13:30 to 17:15 hrs at the Rotsee International Regatta Course in Lucerne.

1997 Rowing World Cup / Coupe du monde d^Òaviron 1997 Lucerne - Rotsee International Regatta Course / Champ de courses international - Lucerne/Rotsee 11-13 July 1997 / 11-13 juillet 1997.

Final Entries - Engagements définitifs

• F2- (18): AUS (2), BLR (2), CAN, CZE, DEN, FRA (2), GBR, GER, IRL, LTU, POL, ROM, *RSA, RUS, USA.
• H2- (19): AUS (2), BAN, CRO (2), FRA (2), GBR*, GER (2), GRE, ITA, LTU, NED, NOR, NZL, POL, ROM, RUS.
• F2x (12): AUS, AUT, EST, GBR, GER*, HUN, LAT, LTU, POL, ROM, SUI, SVK.
• H2x (21): AUS, AUT (2), BEL, CRO, DEN, ESP, FRA, GER (2), GRE, HUN, ITA, NED, NOR*, POL, RUS, SUI, UKR (2), USA.
• H4- (15): AUS, BAN, CRO (2), CZE, ESP, FRA, GBR*, GER (2), ITA, POL, ROM, RUS, SLO.
• F1x (27): ALG, AUS, BEL, BLR*, BUL, DEN (2), ESP, FRA, GBR (2), GER (2), GRE, ITA, LAT, LTU, NED, NOR, NZL (2), ROM, RSA, SWE, USA, YUG.
• H1x (32): AUS (2), AUT, BAN, BEL, BUL, CRO (2), CZE, EGY, ESP, EST, FIN, FRA, GBR (2), GER (2), HUN, ITA (2), LAT, NED, NOR (2), NZL, ROM, RSA, SLO*, SWE, USA (2).
• HPL2x (22): AUS (2), AUT, DEN, ESP, FIN, FRA, GBR, GER (2)*, GRE, ITA, NED, NOR, POL, RSA, RUS, SUI, SWE (2), USA (2).
• FPL2x (16): AUS, CAN, DEN, ESP, FIN, FRA, GBR, GER (2)*, GRE, ITA, JPN, NED, POL, ROM, SWE.
• HPL4- (19): AUS, BAN, CAN, CZE, DEN*, ESP (2), FRA, GBR, GER (2), IRL, ITA, JPN, NED (2), NZL, POL, RUS.
• F4x (10): BLR, CAN, DEN, GER (2)*, NED, ROM, RUS, UKR, USA.
• H4x (17): AUS (2), BLR*, DEN, FRA, GBR, GER (2), ITA, NED, NOR, POL, RUS, SUI, SWE, UKR, USA.
• F8+ (5): BLR, DEN, GER, NED, ROM*.
• H8+ (10): AUS (2), CAN, FRA, GBR, GER (2)*, ITA, ROM, RUS.