In the hope heat

Altenhuber/Tiefenthaler row into the semifinals

Louisa Altenhuber and Lara Tiefenthaler may also row in the semifinals.(Bild: AFP/APA/Bertrand GUAY)

Rowers Louisa Altenhuber/Lara Tiefenthaler have made it through to the semi-finals in the lightweight double sculls at the Olympic Games in Vaires-sur-Marne. 

The red-white-red duo took second place in the hope heat on Monday after a strong performance in 7:17.77 minutes, fulfilling their Olympic goal of a top 12 place. The semi-final of the top twelve boats will take place on Wednesday, with the final on Friday.

"I'm overwhelmed, this is certainly our biggest success and nobody can take that away from us. We are super-happy," said the overjoyed 29-year-old Altenhuber in the ORF interview. Tiefenthaler was also satisfied. "We've achieved our big goal and we're incredibly happy about it," said the 24-year-old.

"We have nothing to lose"
The duo don't want to put too much pressure on themselves for the semi-final on Wednesday (11.44 a.m.). "We have to and want to keep our expectations low," emphasized Tiefenthaler. "We have nothing to lose." In view of their times so far, a place in the A final of the top six is "really unrealistic", but a top ten finish is within reach. "We get to show two more races on this incredible sporting stage," said Altenhuber full of anticipation.

In the hope heat, in which the best three boats qualified for the semi-finals, Altenhuber/Tiefenthaler were only narrowly beaten by the Polish duo Martyna Radosz/Katarzyna Welna (7:16.26). In the preliminary heat on Sunday, the two Austrians finished fourth with a time of 7:24.14 minutes, missing out on a direct place in the semifinals but saving their strength in the face of strong competition.