Svetla had no intention to become an
Olympic champion in rowing. Happily
competing as a swimmer at club level
until 16 years of age, she disliked rowing
when she first sat in a boat. But she was
too polite to refuse trying it out.
Olympic-standard regatta courses
worldwide bear her imprint.
Olympic champion Svetla
Otzetova's experience in rowing
and architecture has allowed her
to be involved in the design of the
world's most prestigious rowing
and canoeing regatta courses for
Rowing World Cups, World Rowing
Championships, and Olympic
regattas over the past 20 years.
The Central Army Sports Club in Sofia
was endeavouring to identify potential
rowing talent in local schools. Studying
at a high school in the Bulgarian capital
at the time, Svetla showed no interest,
but offered to take the candidates down
by the rowing lake she knew so well in
Pancharevo, the small village where she
grew up. Coach Krasimira Zekova put
her in a four and invited her to come
back. Too ashamed to say no, she rowed
until she finally began to enjoy the flat-water sport: "It was my first regatta. I
was replacing another girl and my rowing
was so bad the whole crew was shouting
at me. Despite my appalling performance
we won, and I've loved rowing ever since."
Zekova would be her only coach throughout her rowing career.
Ten years later in 1976 Svetla won gold
at the Montreal Olympic Games in the
women's double with partner Zdravka
Yordanova. What makes this feat even more
remarkable is that she does not have >>
© London 2012 Candidate City
Composite image of Dorney Lake (London) /
mage composite du lac de Dorney (Londres)
© Madrid 2012 Candidate City
