Helseth and Kavlie took historic EC gold – coach rejoices at “Olympic level” – Dagsavisen

– What they are delivering here today is above Olympic medal class. It’s all right there, says an enthusiastic national team coach Fredrik Bekken to NTB.

– It is completely incredible. They are so strong and have trained so well. In a way it’s surprising, but I know what they’ve done from training. So it’s no wonder they’re up there, then, he says further.

The Norwegians went out in the lead together with Lithuania and had a small gap to the other competitors after 1000 metres. Eventually they gained a lead of half a boat’s length and kept away all the way to the finish line in Szeged, Hungary.

Lithuania with Donata Karaliene and Dovile Rimkute and Romania with Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis took silver and bronze respectively.

Helseth and Kavlie are a newly composed duo after Jenny Marie Rørvik did not get a place in the European championships.

It was Rørvik and Helseth who qualified the double sculls for the Olympics in Paris, but only the boat is qualified. The Rowing Association has not selected the athletes yet.

– Nothing is decided down here, says Bekken.

Ahead of the European Championships, the association stated that it would send the athletes “with the greatest performance potential in terms of placing in the Olympics/PL in Paris”.

Also read: No rowers are promised an Olympic place: – It’s up to us

Also read: Skarstein defended the EC gold in rowing: – One of my hardest races