Operation Tokyo 2020 begins for Belgian rowers and kayakers

Rowing The months of the truth break for the Belgian athletes that an olympic ticket for Tokyo 2020 aspire to. The rowers and kayakers are no exception. In the Sports centre Hazewinkel, they today in detail how they purpose think to achieve.

The Belgians know what they are getting. On the Play of Tokyo to hit, there are just three chances - the first in August on the calendar, with the world cup. For the rowers is that in the Austrian Linz. In the skiff qualifies the top9, in the light's double scull is top7 required. An almost impossible task for Pierre De Loof (23), which has only this year really was on the skiff, but not a mission impossible for Tim Brys-Niels Van Zandweghe. The Ghent-Bruges tandem grabbed bronze at the world CHAMPIONSHIPS of 2018 and won the world Cup - a first for Belgium. “That ticket to Tokyo is the only goal that counts this year,” stressed Van Zandweghe. “We are mentally all set.”

Manage them not only in Linz, the European kwalificatieregatta's in the Italian town of Varese (april 2020), or the final of the olympic kwalificatieregatta in the Swiss Lucerne (may 2020), but there are even less tickets (2) are distributed. “Nothing is certain, as the route to Tokyo is still long and with many obstacles littered,” said technical director Dominique Basset. “The competition is strong but Tim and Niels proven already what they are worth. At the WORLDS they make. Just like Pierre, who settled in Linz with the best skiffeurs in the world will measure.” (read on below)