Polish Rowing Teams Qualify for 2016 Summer Olympics

Poland is sending eight boats for each rowing class to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Polish athletes demonstrated exceptional rowing skills during 2016 European & Final Qualification Regatta.

The trials took place in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The women’s pair, consisting of the Wierzbowska sisters, also finished the race with a top tour finish that allowed them to qualify for the event. In total, the men qualified for four events, and the women qualified for four events.

The men’s events for Poland include: Single sculls, quadruple sculls, lightweight double sculls and eight. Women will be participating in the following events: Pair, double sculls, quadruple sculls and lightweight sculls.

Many of the participants were seen on rowing machines prior to getting in the water to warm up for the qualifying event.

Poland athletes have performed exceptionally well in rowing events recently. The country took home the silver medal in the 2016 World Rowing Cup I and has a top 5 finish in the European Championship.

Poland will be bringing the same crew that defeated the United States team at the worlds and lost to them in the B final to the qualifier round.

Australia teams performed poorly during the qualifier rounds and did not make it in for an eight team to the group’s surprise. Poland will feature a strong eight team, with veterans leading the way.

Poland was in first during the qualifier, with Australia closely behind before other teams outpaced the Aussies to overtake them. Italy will also not be in Rio, with the team missing placement by less than a half a second in a close race.

Qualifying rounds started in August 2015 for teams. The long qualifying rounds allowed the Polish teams to meld together. Many athletes have been performing together for years, allowing Poland to hold a competitive edge over the competition.