Rheinisch sneaks into K1 kayaking semis
And so Eoin Rheinisch contests the K1 kayak semi-final at Shunyi Park today (8.40am) after an incident-packed evening on and off the raging waters.
All seemed well when the Kildare paddler bounced back from a poor first heat with an aggressive second run to take the final qualifying spot by finishing 15th of the 21-man field. Then the fun started.
American bosses appealed a 50-second penalty imposed on Scott Parsons, which had it been successful, would have nudged the Irish man into 16th place and out of the Olympics.
The officials were in conclave for almost two hours before finding that Parsons had missed a gate and that the on-course judges had ruled correctly.
Rheinisch, who ironically is a close friend of Parsons, said: “I’ve just been told it’s for certain so I’m very relieved. I’ll go off now and get a good night’s sleep.”
His coach Han Bijnen admitted the controversy was an unwelcome complication.
“It was something we could do without! It always costs mental energy, which we say is precious but again, a good night’s sleep will hopefully work. He has to go from the start again, on a different course. It’s do or die!”
However Rheinisch was in philosophical mood after the race and believed much of the drama was of his own making for having being too conservative in the first heat which left him in 18th. He produced a storming second run and despite incurring two penalties, came home in 12th.
“I’m still slightly annoyed that I put myself in this position (with his first heat) but I’ve been granted a second chance now, the luck went with me a little bit with this so I won’t be making the same mistake again, I’ll be attacking from the very first run.
“I just hope I can take something from this, that I can have a good crack at it again now that I’ve been given a second chance.
“I can just throw everything at it now and just hope for the best.”
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