Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's single sculls
Encyclopedia
Women's single sculls competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
was held between August 9 and 16, at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
.
This rowing
event is a single scull event, meaning that each boat is propelled by a single rower. The "scull" portion means that the rower uses two oars, one on each side of the boat; this contrasts with sweep rowing in which each rower has one oar and rows on only one side (not feasible for singles events!). The competition consists of multiple rounds. Finals were held to determine the placing of each boat; these finals were given letters with those nearer to the beginning of the alphabet meaning a better ranking. Semifinals were named based on which finals they fed, with each semifinal having two possible finals.
During the first round six heats were held. The top three boats in each heat advance to the quarterfinals, together with the 6 fastest of the remaining scullers, while all others are relegated to the E/F semifinals.
The quarterfinals were the second round for rowers still competing for medals. Placing in the quarterfinal heats determined which semifinal the boat would race in. The top three boats in each quarterfinal moved on to the A/B semifinals, with the bottom three boats going to the C/D semifinals.
Six semifinals were held, two each of A/B semifinals, C/D semifinals, and E/F semifinals. For each semifinal race, the top three boats moved on to the better of the two finals, while the bottom three boats went to the lesser of the two finals possible. For example, a second-place finish in an A/B semifinal would result in advancement to the A final.
The fourth and final round was the Finals. Each final determined a set of rankings. The A final determined the medals, along with the rest of the places through 6th. The B final gave rankings from 7th to 12th, the C from 13th to 18th, and so on. Thus, to win a medal rowers had to finish in the top four of their heat, top three of their quarterfinal, and top three of their A/B semifinal to reach the A final.
)
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
was held between August 9 and 16, at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park
The Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park is the new, purpose-built venue for the rowing, canoeing and 10 km open-water swimming events in the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is located in Mapo Village in the Shunyi District in Beijing....
.
This rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
event is a single scull event, meaning that each boat is propelled by a single rower. The "scull" portion means that the rower uses two oars, one on each side of the boat; this contrasts with sweep rowing in which each rower has one oar and rows on only one side (not feasible for singles events!). The competition consists of multiple rounds. Finals were held to determine the placing of each boat; these finals were given letters with those nearer to the beginning of the alphabet meaning a better ranking. Semifinals were named based on which finals they fed, with each semifinal having two possible finals.
During the first round six heats were held. The top three boats in each heat advance to the quarterfinals, together with the 6 fastest of the remaining scullers, while all others are relegated to the E/F semifinals.
The quarterfinals were the second round for rowers still competing for medals. Placing in the quarterfinal heats determined which semifinal the boat would race in. The top three boats in each quarterfinal moved on to the A/B semifinals, with the bottom three boats going to the C/D semifinals.
Six semifinals were held, two each of A/B semifinals, C/D semifinals, and E/F semifinals. For each semifinal race, the top three boats moved on to the better of the two finals, while the bottom three boats went to the lesser of the two finals possible. For example, a second-place finish in an A/B semifinal would result in advancement to the A final.
The fourth and final round was the Finals. Each final determined a set of rankings. The A final determined the medals, along with the rest of the places through 6th. The B final gave rankings from 7th to 12th, the C from 13th to 18th, and so on. Thus, to win a medal rowers had to finish in the top four of their heat, top three of their quarterfinal, and top three of their A/B semifinal to reach the A final.
Schedule
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8UTC+8
UTC+08:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +08:00. In ISO 8601 the associated time would be written as .With an estimated population of 1.53 billion living within the time zone, roughly 22.5% of the world population, it is the most populous time zone in world, as well as a possible...
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| Date | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 9, 2008 | 13:50-14:50 | Heats |
| Monday, August 11, 2008 | 15:30-16:10 | Quarterfinals |
| Wednesday, August 13, 2008 | 14:50-15:10 | Semifinals C/D |
| Wednesday, August 13, 2008 | 15:30-15:50 | Semifinals A/B |
| Friday, August 15, 2008 | 14:10-14:20 | Final E |
| Friday, August 15, 2008 | 14:30-14:40 | Final D |
| Friday, August 15, 2008 | 14:50-15:00 | Final C |
| Friday, August 15, 2008 | 16:50-17:00 | Final B |
| Saturday, August 16, 2008 | 15:30-15:40 | Final A |
Heats
- Qualification Rules: 1-3->Q, 4..->Q or FE
Heat 1
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun is a female Chinese rower. She competed for Team China at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-Records:*1993 National Games/Asian Championships - 1st single sculls;*1993/1994 World Championships - 1st/2nd quadruple sculls;... |
7:38.16 | Q | |
| 2 | Julia Michalska Julia Michalska Julia Michalska is a Polish rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:41.16 | Q | |
| 3 | Sophie Balmary | 7:47.37 | Q | |
| 4 | Gabriela Best | 7:58.60 | Q | |
| 5 | Soraya Jadue | 8:04.08 | Q |
Heat 2
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emma Twigg Emma Twigg Emma Twigg is a New Zealand rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:45.18 | Q | |
| 2 | Iva Obradović | 7:49.13 | Q | |
| 3 | Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Asensio is a female competition rower from Spain, who was born in Canada. A bronze medal winner at the 2005 Mediterranean Games she represented Spain at three Summer Olympics: 1996, 2004 and 2008.... |
7:58.03 | Q | |
| 4 | Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame is a Brazilian rower. She has competed in two Summer Olympics – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – in the single scull, and won the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, competing at the Lightweight class.- External links :* at sports-reference.com... |
8:08.84 | Q | |
| 5 | Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man is a rower from Hong Kong, China who won the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in the lightweight sincle sculls class. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Women's Single Sculls.-References:... |
8:23.02 | Q |
Heat 3
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten is a famous rower from Minsk, Belarus, an Olympic champion and world champion in single sculls.... |
7:40.03 | Q | |
| 2 | Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette is an American rower who competed in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
7:49.14 | Q | |
| 3 | Shin Yeong-Eun | 8:17.40 | Q | |
| 4 | Inga Dudchenko | 8:28.24 | Q |
Heat 4
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova is a Bulgarian rower. Neykova competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she won silver in Single Sculls, the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won bronze and the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the same discipline. Her... |
7:56.07 | Q | |
| 2 | Mayra González Mayra González Mayra González Borroto is a female rower from Cuba. She is a two-time Olympian for her native country, and twice won a gold medal at the Pan American Games .-References:*... |
8:07.22 | Q | |
| 3 | Rika Geyser | 8:20.26 | Q | |
| 4 | Latt Shwe Zin | 8:42.23 | Q |
Heat 5
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabriella Bascelli | 7:43.67 | Q | |
| 2 | Pippa Savage | 7:57.95 | Q | |
| 3 | Camila Vargas | 8:32.06 | Q | |
| 4 | Homa Hosseini Homa Hosseini Homa Hosseini is an Iranian rower born in Kermanshah.She represented Iran in the single sculls event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Hosseini was one of three female Iranian competitors at the Games, and was the first ever female Iranian Olympic rower. She also was her country's flagbearer... |
9:02.12 | FE |
Heat 6
| Rank | Rower | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková is a Czech rower and World Champion from Single Sculls at Lake Bled on the 2011 World Rowing Championships.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:51.56 | Q | |
| 2 | Frida Svensson Frida Svensson (rower) Frida Svensson is a professional sculler. She won a gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro, the victory was notable for narrowly defeating Ekaterina Karsten who has dominated women's sculling since 1996... |
7:56.39 | Q | |
| 3 | Elana Hill Elana Hill Elana Hill is a Zimbabwean rower. She represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.... |
8:35.53 | Q | |
| 4 | Heba Ahmed | 8:46.96 | FE |
Quarterfinals
- Qualification Rules: 1-3->SA/B, 4..->SC/D
Quarterfinal 1
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette is an American rower who competed in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
7:28.91 | SA/B | |
| 2 | Julia Michalska Julia Michalska Julia Michalska is a Polish rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:31.90 | SA/B | |
| 3 | Gabriella Bascelli | 7:36.68 | SA/B | |
| 4 | Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Asensio is a female competition rower from Spain, who was born in Canada. A bronze medal winner at the 2005 Mediterranean Games she represented Spain at three Summer Olympics: 1996, 2004 and 2008.... |
7:49.60 | SC/D | |
| 5 | Inga Dudchenko | 8:15.88 | SC/D | |
| 6 | Elana Hill Elana Hill Elana Hill is a Zimbabwean rower. She represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.... |
8:20.84 | SC/D |
Quarterfinal 2
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková is a Czech rower and World Champion from Single Sculls at Lake Bled on the 2011 World Rowing Championships.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:30.33 | SA/B | |
| 2 | Sophie Balmary | 7:37.01 | SA/B | |
| 3 | Iva Obradović | 7:39.16 | SA/B | |
| 4 | Mayra González Mayra González Mayra González Borroto is a female rower from Cuba. She is a two-time Olympian for her native country, and twice won a gold medal at the Pan American Games .-References:*... |
7:45.75 | SC/D | |
| 5 | Camila Vargas | 8:11.79 | SC/D | |
| 6 | Latt Shwe Zin | 8:17.76 | SC/D |
Quarterfinal 3
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova is a Bulgarian rower. Neykova competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she won silver in Single Sculls, the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won bronze and the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the same discipline. Her... |
7:22.37 | SA/B | |
| 2 | Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun is a female Chinese rower. She competed for Team China at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-Records:*1993 National Games/Asian Championships - 1st single sculls;*1993/1994 World Championships - 1st/2nd quadruple sculls;... |
7:23.30 | SA/B | |
| 3 | Pippa Savage | 7:34.03 | SA/B | |
| 4 | Soraya Jadue | 7:51.52 | SC/D | |
| 5 | Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame is a Brazilian rower. She has competed in two Summer Olympics – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – in the single scull, and won the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, competing at the Lightweight class.- External links :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:52.65 | SC/D | |
| 6 | Shin Yeong-Eun | 7:58.71 | SC/D |
Quarterfinal 4
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten is a famous rower from Minsk, Belarus, an Olympic champion and world champion in single sculls.... |
7:25.74 | SA/B | |
| 2 | Frida Svensson Frida Svensson (rower) Frida Svensson is a professional sculler. She won a gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro, the victory was notable for narrowly defeating Ekaterina Karsten who has dominated women's sculling since 1996... |
7:29.29 | SA/B | |
| 3 | Emma Twigg Emma Twigg Emma Twigg is a New Zealand rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:34.24 | SA/B | |
| 4 | Rika Geyser | 7:44.14 | SC/D | |
| 5 | Gabriela Best | 7:46.45 | SC/D | |
| 6 | Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man is a rower from Hong Kong, China who won the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in the lightweight sincle sculls class. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Women's Single Sculls.-References:... |
8:04.68 | SC/D |
Semifinals C/D
- Qualification Rules: 1-3->FC, 4-5->FD, 6..->FE
Semifinal C/D 1
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra González Mayra González Mayra González Borroto is a female rower from Cuba. She is a two-time Olympian for her native country, and twice won a gold medal at the Pan American Games .-References:*... |
8:02.10 | FC | |
| 2 | Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Asensio is a female competition rower from Spain, who was born in Canada. A bronze medal winner at the 2005 Mediterranean Games she represented Spain at three Summer Olympics: 1996, 2004 and 2008.... |
8:03.61 | FC | |
| 3 | Gabriela Best | 8:09.61 | FC | |
| 4 | Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame is a Brazilian rower. She has competed in two Summer Olympics – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – in the single scull, and won the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, competing at the Lightweight class.- External links :* at sports-reference.com... |
8:13.01 | FD | |
| 5 | Shin Yeong-Eun | 8:23.62 | FD | |
| 6 | Elana Hill Elana Hill Elana Hill is a Zimbabwean rower. She represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.... |
8:34.27 | FE |
Semifinal C/D 2
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rika Geyser | 7:59.67 | FC | |
| 2 | Soraya Jadue | 8:13.67 | FC | |
| 3 | Inga Dudchenko | 8:16.95 | FC | |
| 4 | Camila Vargas | 8:22.35 | FD | |
| 5 | Latt Shwe Zin | 8:24.23 | FD | |
| 6 | Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man is a rower from Hong Kong, China who won the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in the lightweight sincle sculls class. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Women's Single Sculls.-References:... |
8:30.80 | FE |
Semifinal A/B 1
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun is a female Chinese rower. She competed for Team China at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-Records:*1993 National Games/Asian Championships - 1st single sculls;*1993/1994 World Championships - 1st/2nd quadruple sculls;... |
7:31.33 | FA | |
| 2 | Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette is an American rower who competed in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
7:35.69 | FA | |
| 3 | Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková is a Czech rower and World Champion from Single Sculls at Lake Bled on the 2011 World Rowing Championships.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:38.14 | FA | |
| 4 | Gabriella Bascelli | 7:42.10 | FB | |
| 5 | Pippa Savage | 7:43.98 | FB | |
| 6 | Frida Svensson Frida Svensson (rower) Frida Svensson is a professional sculler. She won a gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro, the victory was notable for narrowly defeating Ekaterina Karsten who has dominated women's sculling since 1996... |
7:46.38 | FB |
Semifinal A/B 2
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten is a famous rower from Minsk, Belarus, an Olympic champion and world champion in single sculls.... |
7:32.86 | FA | |
| 2 | Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova is a Bulgarian rower. Neykova competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she won silver in Single Sculls, the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won bronze and the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the same discipline. Her... |
7:33.29 | FA | |
| 3 | Julia Michalska Julia Michalska Julia Michalska is a Polish rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:38.04 | FA | |
| 4 | Emma Twigg Emma Twigg Emma Twigg is a New Zealand rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:38.09 | FB | |
| 5 | Iva Obradović | 7:52.39 | FB | |
| 6 | Sophie Balmary | 7:56.73 | FB |
Final E
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man Lee Ka Man is a rower from Hong Kong, China who won the silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in the lightweight sincle sculls class. She also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Women's Single Sculls.-References:... |
7:56.07 | ||
| 2 | Heba Ahmed | 8:07.10 | ||
| 3 | Elana Hill Elana Hill Elana Hill is a Zimbabwean rower. She represented Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.... |
8:09.94 | ||
| 4 | Homa Hosseini Homa Hosseini Homa Hosseini is an Iranian rower born in Kermanshah.She represented Iran in the single sculls event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Hosseini was one of three female Iranian competitors at the Games, and was the first ever female Iranian Olympic rower. She also was her country's flagbearer... |
8:18.20 |
Final D
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame Fabiana Beltrame is a Brazilian rower. She has competed in two Summer Olympics – Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 – in the single scull, and won the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia, competing at the Lightweight class.- External links :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:43.04 | ||
| 2 | Shin Yeong-Eun | 7:48.31 | ||
| 3 | Latt Shwe Zin | 8:00.05 | ||
| 4 | Camila Vargas | 8:02.91 |
Final C
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rika Geyser | 7:35.06 | ||
| 2 | Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Nuria Domínguez Asensio is a female competition rower from Spain, who was born in Canada. A bronze medal winner at the 2005 Mediterranean Games she represented Spain at three Summer Olympics: 1996, 2004 and 2008.... |
7:36.12 | ||
| 3 | Mayra González Mayra González Mayra González Borroto is a female rower from Cuba. She is a two-time Olympian for her native country, and twice won a gold medal at the Pan American Games .-References:*... |
7:42.68 | ||
| 4 | Gabriela Best | 7:45.21 | ||
| 5 | Soraya Jadue | 7:48.35 | ||
| 6 | Inga Dudchenko | 8:16.09 |
Final B
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frida Svensson Frida Svensson (rower) Frida Svensson is a professional sculler. She won a gold medal in the women's single sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro, the victory was notable for narrowly defeating Ekaterina Karsten who has dominated women's sculling since 1996... |
7:48.19 | ||
| 2 | Gabriella Bascelli | 7:48.91 | ||
| 3 | Emma Twigg Emma Twigg Emma Twigg is a New Zealand rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:51.63 | ||
| 4 | Pippa Savage | 7:53.43 | ||
| 5 | Iva Obradović | 7:53.83 | ||
| 6 | Sophie Balmary | 7:58.88 |
Final A
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova Rumyana Neykova is a Bulgarian rower. Neykova competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she won silver in Single Sculls, the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won bronze and the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won gold in the same discipline. Her... |
7:22.34 | ||
 |
Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette Michelle Guerette is an American rower who competed in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece... |
7:22.78 | ||
 |
Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten Ekaterina Karsten is a famous rower from Minsk, Belarus, an Olympic champion and world champion in single sculls.... |
7:23.98 | ||
| 4 | Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun Zhang Xiuyun is a female Chinese rower. She competed for Team China at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-Records:*1993 National Games/Asian Championships - 1st single sculls;*1993/1994 World Championships - 1st/2nd quadruple sculls;... |
7:25.48 | ||
| 5 | Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková Miroslava Knapková is a Czech rower and World Champion from Single Sculls at Lake Bled on the 2011 World Rowing Championships.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:35.52 | ||
| 6 | Julia Michalska Julia Michalska Julia Michalska is a Polish rower.- References :* at sports-reference.com... |
7:43.44 |