Rowing expectations and canoe frustrations

July 27, 2024·24 min·2 clips

Hannah Craig explains why canoe slalom athlete Liam Jaegu looked bewildered and exhausted after his first Olympic run.

This episode of the RTÉ Olympics Podcast reviews Ireland's performances in rowing and canoe slalom on the first full day of the Paris Games. Host Dwayne is joined by 2012 Olympian and canoe slalom analyst Hannah Craig and Olympic rower Tim Harnedy. Craig provides expert insight on the canoe slalom events, while Harnedy breaks down the rowing heats and previews upcoming races. Liam Jegou finished 16th in his canoe slalom heat, narrowly qualifying for the semifinals after a difficult first run. Madison Corcoran, in her Olympic debut, placed 24th in a highly experienced field but showed promising moments. In rowing, both Irish double sculls crews advanced as expected from their heats. The men's pair and women's pair also progressed, with the men's double sculls particularly impressing Tim Harnedy. The episode also notes other Irish results, including Dean Clancy's boxing loss and the rugby sevens team finishing sixth. Hannah Craig believes Liam Jegou, a World Cup winner, should reach the final if he returns to his usual standard. She describes Madison Corcoran's high-risk style as a sign of her potential for future Games. Tim Harnedy now considers the men's double sculls potential gold medalists after their heat performance, having previously thought them contenders for silver. He explains the physiological strategy behind even-paced racing, as used by Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy. Harnedy predicts medals for several crews but notes injuries have impacted the men's pair's form. The hosts discuss the unique proximity of the rowing and canoe slalom venues at Vaires-sur-Marne. Craig admits the "thrill and skill" of slalom appeals to her more than the perceived pain of flat-water rowing. The episode touches on the upcoming elimination of lightweight rowing from the Olympics, to be replaced by coastal rowing. Harnedy shares an anecdote about the 1972 New Zealand eight, who funded their trip through bingo and used strategic beer drinking as psychological warfare. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending immediate reaction with expert previews. The style is informal and newsy, with hosts and guests sharing personal anecdotes alongside technical breakdowns. Listeners interested in the technical nuances and medal prospects of Irish rowing and canoeing will enjoy this episode. Those seeking broader Olympic coverage or narrative-driven storytelling might find its focused, sport-specific analysis less engaging.

As heard by us

A sharp Olympic water update with good canoe-slalom and rowing detail.

The piece stays on Ireland's water events and keeps the focus where it belongs, moving from canoe slalom to rowing without losing the thread. It spends time on the details that matter: timing, tactics, crew styles, and how the crews are being judged in medal terms.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Ireland's water-sports opening day explained without losing the live Olympics tension.

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