- Olympic gold for the lemme and the head - Brendel rejected
Canoeists Max Lemke and Jacob Schopf crowned their Olympic Games in Paris with a second gold medal. The duo prevailed in the kayak double over 500 meters and were able to celebrate again just a day after their Olympic victory in the four. However, the second German medal hope in this race was not fulfilled, as Max Rendschmidt and Tom Liebscher-Lucz finished fifth. Sebastian Brendel was also left without a chance, finishing eighth and last in the canoe single over 1,000 meters.
" We knew that if we got off to a good start and put everything into the first 350 meters, we just had to bring it home. In the end, it was very, very tough for us," said Schopf on Eurosport. "But that's exactly what we've been training for. It was then very emotional with our families along the course. It was just awesome."
The two also thanked their coach Arndt Hanisch on ZDF, who stood in their midst. "He has sacrificed a lot of sweat, blood, and probably sleepless nights in the last years," said Schopf. "He has done everything that can be done. I will be grateful to him for a long time." Lemke also wished for more recognition for coaches in Germany.
Gold in the kayak four
For the first time in Olympic canoe history, two German kayak doubles could have won a medal among men. Rendschmidt, Lemke, Schopf, and Liebscher-Lucz had already celebrated gold in the kayak four over 500 meters together on Thursday.
Due to the time plan influenced by the Corona pandemic in Tokyo, the Germans had focused on the big parade boats in the four. However, the double races took place later.
In the Nautical Stadium of Vaires-sur-Marne, where the wind comes extremely from behind and there is rough water for the first time, Federal Chancellor and hobby rower Olaf Scholz (SPD) also observed the events from the tribune. The last gold in the kayak double was won by Max Rendschmidt in 2016 with Marcus Groß - but over 1,000 meters.
Brendel without a chance for a fourth Olympic victory
Brendel missed his fourth gold at his fourth Games clearly. The three-time Olympic champion, who also won gold in the canoe double in Rio and bronze in Tokyo after his single victories in London and Rio, had a seven-second deficit on the bronze medal of Serghei Tarnovschi from Moldova and lost ground on the leaders after two-thirds of the race. Gold went to the Czech Martin Fuksa ahead of Isaquias Queiroz Dos Santos from Brazil.
"I'm disappointed," said Brendel. "I can't say yet whether this was my last Olympic race. I will think about it in the next few days in peace."
Even the family support at the track did not help the 36-year-old in his perhaps last big appearance. His parents, in-laws, wife Romy, and children Hanna and Edwin had all come to France. "They are happy to experience it with me one last time," Brendel had said. He had hoped to make a difference in the final sprint, but it was not enough.
Women win bronze in kayak double
Earlier, Paulina Paszek and Jule Hake won the bronze medal in the kayak double of women over 500 meters. The duo had to wait about five minutes after the finish for the result and could finally celebrate because two bronzes were awarded. The German team finished on the same level with the Hungarians Noemi Pupp and Sara Fojt.
"This is a moment that will stay with us forever. It's more than just sport," said Paszek. Hake added: "We saw three boats on the same level. I would have believed we would finish fourth. I have no idea what happened, how close it was."
Gold went to New Zealanders Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin, silver was won by Hungarians Tamara Csipes and Alida Dora Gazso. The second German duo Lena Röhlings and Pauline Jagsch finished sixth.
The last German Olympic victory in this event was in 2012 by Franziska Weber and Tina Dietze, who also won bronze in Rio in 2016.
Despite their impressive performance in the kayak four, Max Rendschmidt and Tom Liebscher-Lucz fell short of expectations in the double race, finishing fifth. In a separate interview, Sebastian Brendel expressed his disappointement after finishing eighth and last in the canoe single over 1,000 meters, saying, "I'm not going to lie, I'm disappointed."
