Jen Hodson stars for SA

2008-08-21 13:51

Beijing - Jen Hodson starred on a grey and rainy day in Beijing as the South African sprint canoeists experienced a day of mixed fortunes at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing park on Thursday.

The sprightly K1 star qualified for the final of the women's 500m competition after a spectacular semi-final race that saw her edge past a number of medal hopefuls.

"I can't believe it... I made the Olympic final," gushed an ecstatic Hodson afterwards. "I don't know how I held on. My whole body just went dead. I pushed so hard in that last section, and gave it everything I had. It was just 'vasbyt'.

"I felt that I was a bit behind at halfway and I knew that I had to come through at the end," she added. "I thought qualifying for the Olympics would be the hard part and this would be the fun, but these races have been something else altogether."

Hodson said that she had felt unusually apprehensive on her way to the course.

"I felt a bit scared this morning and nervous, but once I started my warm-up that all went away, and was replaced by this feeling of determination."

Blue ribbon

She also heaped thanks on the band of vocal South African supporters in the grandstands. "It felt like all my supporters in the crowd were in the boat with me pushing me on. It's been like that all week, with messages of support - emails and SMSs. In that last 100m everyone's energy was pushing me on."

Hodson now has the unique prospect of two finals in two days, as she gears up for the women's K4 final, followed a day later by the blue ribbon women's 500m K1 final on Saturday.

"I am so excited for the K4 final!" enthused Hodson. "I can't wait. The girls are racing so well and I can't wait to see how it goes. We are in the final and we have nothing to lose, so I can't wait!"

Hodson's excitement counters the disappointment experienced by Shaun Rubenstein, who had to endure a second hairs-breadth semi-final elimination in as many days. In the 500m men's K1 semi-final he started superbly and was a dominant for most of the heat, and looked certain to erase the frustrating fourth in the 1000m semis that eliminated him from Friday's final.

However, he battled through the final hundred meters as tournament pacesetter Adam Van Koeverden, and then Russian Anton Ryakhov and then Kenny Wallace of Australia crossed the line ahead of him, ending an inspirational campaign with frustration.

The tough East Rand star walked away from the course with his head high.

'I am proud of myself'

"I was so focused," he added. "I had a good rhythm. I gave it absolutely everything I got, and I got to the end shattered. I can be really happy that I raced my guts out, but I just wasn't fast enough. Well done to the other guys.

"It's helluva disappointing," said Rubenstein afterwards. "The whole of yesterday, last night and this morning there wasn't a thought in my mind that I would be standing here saying that I came fourth. But I am really not down. I am proud of myself. I was in with a serious shout in both races, and I know I raced really well."

The K2 crew of Bridgitte Hartley and Michele Eray raced a very fast competitive women's 500m K2 semi-final, a suitable ending to a campaign that reach stellar heights since its formation less than three months ago.

C1 paddler Calvin Mokoto's Olympics came to a joyous end when he completed his 500m C1 semi-final.

"I feel so proud," he said. "Proud for myself and so proud for my country. I have had so much support from my coach Nandor Almasi, who must take all the credit for starting C-boat canoeing in South Africa."

- SAPA