The Olympic Games represents the pinnacle of our sport: only the crème de la crème of the world’s fastest athletes are selected for the privilege of competing in one of the most rigorous competitions on earth. Still, although many names and nations are well-known to casual viewers and die-hard fanatics alike, others may initially fly under the radar.
Our team has complied profiles on four athletes that herald from non-traditional rowing nations as they try to make their mark on the global stage.
Author: Fraser Innes
Quentin Antognelli – Monégasque Men’s Single Scull
A name familiar to fans of British domestic rowing, Quentin Antognelli won the Ladies’ Challenge Plate with Oxford Brookes in 2018 and 2019, and is now preparing for his second Olympic Games representing the small city-state of Monaco.
Three years ago in Tokyo, he was one of two flag bearers for Monaco at the opening ceremony, representing a total entry in the games of just six athletes after being granted a space via the IOC Tripartite Commission, a IOC subcommittee designed to support the representation of smaller nations at the games. Finishing 15th in Tokyo’s 32-boat field, Antognelli represented his country well and has continued to be the standard bearer for micro-states within rowing.
With a 16th place finish at the World Championships ten months ago and a silver medal in the double at the Head of the Charles, Antognelli looks likely to put the Principality’s best foot forward once again.
Anna Prakaten – Uzbek Women’s Single Scull
Now wearing the third flag of her career, Anna Prakaten began her international rowing career in 2010 at her home Under 23 World Championships in Belarus, the nation she continued to represent all the way through to the 2016 European Championships. For the 2020 Games, she qualified the single scull as part of the Russian team. Racing under the Russian Olympic Committee due to WADA-imposed suspensions, she won silver in Tokyo.
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarussian-born Prakaten is only able to compete in Paris thanks her nationality change being approved by World Rowing, allowing her to represent Uzbekistan. Her early career on the Uzbek team has been rather successful, winning the Asian Games last summer before booking her spot in Paris with a commanding victory at the Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta that saw her take first place with open water ahead of second place, and almost 30 seconds ahead of the fastest non-qualifier. Regardless of the colours she wears, she is one to watch for a potential medal in Vaires-sur-Marne.
Author: That_Stroke
Mohamed Bukrah – Libyan Men’s Single Scull
Taking on the likes of Zeidler, Mohamed Bukrah will be making his debut on the Olympic scene in Paris for Lybia, one of 20 countries sending a one-athlete team to the Games.
In September 2023, Bukrah raced at the World Rowing Championships in the single. After placing last in his heat – over 40 seconds slower than the Azerbaijani sculler that came fifth, and over a minute slower than the Dutch sculler who won the heat – it was bound to be a tough few days. Bukrah came third in his repechage, sending him to the E-H Quarter-finals. After then coming fifth in the quarter-finals, and third in the semis, Bukrah raced in the G final and finished fifth, leaving him the 40th-ranked sculler in the world.
Just a month later in October of 2023, Bukrah competed in the African Olympic Paralympic Qualification Regatta (AOPQE), where he finished fifth in the A final: as such, a Paris medal seems unlikely. That being said, 40th in the world and fifth in Africa, Bukrah is a blossoming talent with an upwards trajectory – and certainly a sculler to look out for in the future.
Evidelia González – Nicaraguan Women’s Single Scull
Nicaragua is another nation sending a lone sculler, this time with returning Evidelia González in the women’s single.
In 2020, González made history as the first Nicaraguan woman to compete in Olympic rowing. During the Tokyo Games, she came third in her E final, securing 27th place. Prior to the Olympics, she won gold in the Central American Games and medalled again in 2018, when González and her partner Vanegas won bronze in the double during the Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG). During the 2023 CACG, González finished third. Clearly, González is a strong sculler, and it seems the single is her best bet for Tokyo
While she will be in for a tough race, González has the support of her country behind her and will be pushing for improvement in Tokyo.
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