Puspure’s glory hopes ruined by ‘unfortunate’ draw

A DAY of ifs, buts and maybes for Irish rower Sanita Puspure as her Olympic dream came to an end in the toughest of the morning’s single sculls quarter-finals yesterday.

National Rowing High Performance Director Martin McElroy admitted Puspure had faced an ‘unfortunate’ draw after finishing a creditable fourth in 7:44.19.

That time would have seen her progress to the semis from any of the day’s other races.

McElroy said: “It was pretty tough ending up alongside the 2010 and 2011 world champions (Miroslava Knapkova and Frida Svennson) but she also had to race the American (Genevra Stone) who beat her in the Olympic qualifier in Lucerne.

“We knew the form. But that is the way it is. That is the unfortunate thing about the draw (based on heat results). But if you are at the mercy of the draw then you just need to be faster.”

Puspure stormed off from the start gun and led for a spell before being reeled in by the Czech great Knapkova and then Sweden’s Svennson. By the 500m mark she found herself in a battle with Stone for third – and a place in the Olympic semi-finals.

Puspure recalled: “The American girl was the one I needed to beat and I felt she would be tough to beat but I didn’t do it.

“My start was good. I don’t need to do anything special to be at the top at the start but the middle bit is where I was struggling to keep up the pace with the other girls. Now I have to go home and train a little bit harder for next year.”

The Latvian native fell away as Stone upped the pace and overtook Svennson to claim second.

Puspure, an underage champion in her native country, came to Irish rowing by accident and she admits that many talented immigrants need to be more proactive about getting involved in Irish sports.

“If you have been good in sport (in your native country) and you’re not getting out there and showing everybody that you’re actually good then they’re not going to notice you.

“You obviously have to make your step forward as well (to be seen). But it worked out really well for me and I’m really happy with that.”

It has been an incredible journey for Puspure who returned to rowing so she could, in her own words, ‘get rid of the baby fat’ after having a second child.

And her two kids were amongst the first to congratulate her after yesterday’s race.

“I was very happy to be here. Patrick (5) and Daniella (4), they’re running around the place now waiting for mommy to come see them,” said Puspure

Puspure still has business to take care of as she bids to qualify for either the C or D finals.

And after that comes a well earned rest

“First I want to take some time off to enjoy summer, well what is left of it.

“Then I can’t wait to get back on water.”