Positive outlook
for Rio 2016
Many young eyes at this year’s World Rowing Junior and Under 23
Championships were looking past London 2012 towards their ultimate
goal: the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For most of these
young athletes, the Games in London may be too much, too soon, but the
next five years provides them with more time to let their true potential
shine through.
In Brazil, the prospect of a home-water Olympic
Games is mouth-watering. Two men have the
enviable task of preparing Brazilian youngsters
for what might be the sporting highlight of their
lives. Sergio Brasil Sztancsa has been coaching
the national squad for 11 years, joined by Rodrigo
Rodrigues, who coxed the Brazilian four to ninth
place at the 2001 World Rowing Championships.
It is clear these two coaches have a development
plan set in stone for success in Rio.
in Rio. We need young blood
to make it happen. That is why
we started from scratch with a
new team. We are working on a
new vision and want to improve both
our rowing skills and mentality to be ready
for the Olympics in five years’ time. The 2016
Games might look far away, but, in view of the
many things we still have to do, it is so close!”
Everything already seems ready for next year,
and that is inspiring.”
World Rowing spoke to Sztancsa and Rodrigues
during the 2011 World Rowing Junior
Championships, which was the test event for
the 2012 Olympic Rowing Regatta and was held
at the 2012 Olympic venue, Dorney Lake.
The Brazilian junior team competing at Eton was
relatively young and, despite not making it into
the medals, the plans have been set in motion
for future success.
The new development programme has received
much support from the National Federation.
Wilson Reeberg, a former rower at international
level and now president of the Brazilian Federation,
has set up a strategy to improve rowing and
coaching skills and it is through this programme
that Rodrigues came to work with the Brazilian
rowing team. The coaching programme is not
limited to Brazilian territory, and numerous >
Brazil’s Marciel Souza
and Victor Bastos on
the pontoon at the 2011
World Rowing Junior
Championships in Eton,
Great Britain.
“Our plan is of course to train the juniors competing
here to be our elite rowers at the 2016 Olympics
“Most of them will still be juniors next year and
one still has two more years to go at junior level.
In view of the forthcoming Olympics in Rio, we
are also very happy to be here at Dorney Lake.
Issue 18 – October 2011
