Aussie rower sets new world record amid COVID-19 lockdown
PTI, Apr 15, 2020, 1:57 PM IST
Sydney: An Australian rower who set out to rack up some kilometers while on COVID-19 lockdown inadvertently broke a world record for the indoor rowing half-marathon, officials said Wednesday, April 15.
Like the rest of the Australian team, Georgie Rowe was training at home in Sydney by herself last weekend as she deals with the disappointment of not travelling to Japan this year for the Tokyo Olympics.
Rowe, 27, was on a Concept2 rowing machine and such was her intensity that she clocked a time of 1hr 19min 28.4sec over a distance of 21,097 metres. It smashed the record for the heavyweight women’s half-marathon set five years ago by US rower Esther Lofgren by more than 40 seconds.
Rowing Australia spokeswoman Lucy Benjamin said it was an extraordinary effort in the circumstances, particularly as Rowe normally works as part of a team in the women’s eight.
“It’s a mental challenge because you’re on your own and you don’t have your crew with you,” she told AFP.
“And it’s a tough machine, it’s a full-body workout.” Rowe told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that her approach was to plug the distance into the machine then “put some music on and just go for it”.
“Whether it is a world record or not, I just wanted to get the metres up for my state,” she said.
When Rowe realised a record was in the offing she admitted to some confusion about exactly how far she needed to row, 21,097 metres or 21,097.5.
To be certain, she completed 21,098, leading to a minor delay in Concept2 recognising her achievement. But the time is now listed on the manufacturer’s website and Rowe will no doubt be hoping for greater glory when she eventually competes at the rescheduled Tokyo Games next year.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Gukesh credits Vishwanathan Anand for his Chess journey
Indian prodigy D Gukesh returns triumphant to cheering crowds in Chennai
Credit to Stoinis as it didn’t seem like 210 track: KL Rahul
“Had the game in hand, but…”: Ruturaj Gaikwad on reason behind CSK’s 1st home loss in IPL 2024
Stoinis ton shocks CSK as LSG win by six wickets
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
NIA arrests key accused in 2023 attack on Indian High Commission in London
Three persons run over by train in Bengaluru
Indian nationals aboard ‘MSC Aries’ in good health, return delayed due to technicalities: MEA
Husband has no control over wife’s ‘stridhan’: SC
IT sleuths threatening raided leaders to claim money belongs to me, Cong: DK Shivakumar