ROWER Joanie Delgaco is feeling more confident about the rhythm and consistency of her strokes after sampling the racing conditions of the National Olympic Nautical Stadium, the site of the Paris Olympic rowing meet, in Vaires-sur Marne, France, according to coach Ed Maerina.
“After we checked in at the Olympic Village last Sunday, we left early Monday morning for the rowing venue where the rigging of the boat was done and Joanie had two tests with her boat,” said Maerina of the Olympic rowing site located 47 kilometers east of Paris.
“Medyo feel na niya ‘yung measurement and consistency ng strokes niya,” noted Maerina, adding it was cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon, on top of a strong tailwind that the rower experienced during her second training session.
A native of Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Delgaco, 26, is the country’s first female rower to compete in the Olympics and the country’s first representative in 24 years in the sport since Benjie Tolentino saw action in the men’s singles sculls in the 2000 Sydney Summer Games.
Maerina, who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, said she and her ward had no complaints so far except that it took them at least an hour to reach the National Olympic Nautical Stadium, which was built in 2019 specifically for the Paris Games.
Together with gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo and boxer Felix Eumir Marcial, Delgaco will open the Philippine campaign in the global sports showcase on Saturday with the heats in the women’s singles sculls a day after the opening ceremony along the River Seine.
The Pinay standard-bearer aims to make it all the way to the finals on Aug. 2 and 3.
