“The first race always hurts”

She was nervous when Magdalena Lobnig competed in her pre-race at the European Rowing Championships in Munich, almost exactly a year after the Olympic bronze medal – and won it in the fastest time of the entire field (8:42.83 minutes). The Carinthian had not competed in any competitions for around three months due to an illness, which is why the European Championships serve to determine the position of the 32-year-old. The Carinthian was satisfied with the lead, if not happy. “The first race always hurts,” she said on ORF about the challenging crosswind that pushed her in the direction of the chain of buoys. “But as long as time is on my side, I can sleep peacefully,” said Lobnig, who is contesting her semi-final tomorrow. The latter also applies to Julian Schöberl: After boat partner Lukas Reim failed due to Covid, the Urfahraner made the climb in the non-Olympic lightweight one as third in the lead in 7: 51.43 minutes. “Julian did an excellent job in his non-traditional boat class,” praised national coach Robert Sens.

The Upper Austrians Jakob Stadler, Lorenz Lindorfer and Gabriel Stekl finished sixth with the Viennese Rudolf Querfeld in the coxless four, which is why they have to prove themselves today in the intermediate heat.