VietNamNet Bridge – They have participated in many international rowing tournaments but rowers Nguyen Thi Thao and Nguyen Thi Hai currently know the feeling of rowing a real boat.



In London, Vietnam’s rowing team does not stay in the village for athletes with the Vietnamese sports delegation, but at the Eton Dorney Rowing Center.

Before going to London, their biggest concern was the equipment and training conditions in London. The organizing board had informed Vietnamese rowers that they would be provided with boats, so Thao and Hai have only brought four oars painted with the Vietnamese flag to London.

At the first spell of training, their concern disappeared because training facilities are better than their expectation.

Thao and Hai are supplied with a very light boat and oars. This is a product of Pilliti, one of the two most famous racing boat producers in the world. Compared to the old and heavy boat that they used at home, this boat is so great.

Thao and Hai said that it is much easier to use the new boat. Moreover, the weather in London was very cool so their training days were very good.

The two rowers practiced under the guidance of Australian expert Joseph Donnelly.



Eton Dorney is an artificial lake so there was no strong wind or big waves, while Thao and Hai were familiar with natural lakes, where wind was strong, so it was very easy for them to be familiar with the artificial lake.

It was a big surprise for Vietnamese experts when Thao and Hai won cards to the Olympics, although Australian expert Donnelly had made a forecast about it.

This is the first time Vietnam got official cards to the Olympics. In 2004, rowers Nguyen Thi Cach and Nguyen Thi Hien had wild cards.

Thao and Hai will compete at 5pm on Sunday, July 29 in women’s pair.

Compiled by S. Tung