Petition urging FISA to preserve lightweight rowing
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We need a midweight category as well! most people aren't under 160 or over 200 naturally, even after training. The weight categories were created back when average heighters were shorter. Any guy who is 6'-6'3 is excluded from the sport, or has to become a rake or compete against monsters.
Why do the heavyweights get to keep ALL their events? Do we really need to see every permutation of boat size/type? Why not throw tripples into the sculling mix, and quintuples, and make a 6-person sweep boat? We already have too many on the heavy side. Make a midweight pair/four god damn it!
The Olympic spirit is about inclusion, not discrimination. If the IOC and FISA wants to save money then eliminate the corruption within the organization; not the arbitrary discrimination of a class of bona-fide athletes who struggle to perfect their craft in the"pain cave" often unnoticed. These individuals have contributed to the Olympic spirit and its tradition for decades without succumbing to the almighty dollar of professional sports. Stop putting money before the ethics of sportsmanship and true athletic endeavor and think about the message you're sending to the youth of the world. That message is one of the fundamental tenets of the Olympic movement, How hypocritical of the IOC to invest millions to include ParaOlympians and then exclude someone because they don't weigh enough. Flyweight boxers and 132lb wrestlers and weightlifters use the same facilities as their heavier counterparts. Lightweight rowers use the same facilities as the heavyweights and although there would be additional cost associated with the manpower necessary for officiating,security and housing: compared to the total Olympic budget this is fiscal absurdity. If you want to promote athletics as a peaceful resolution to how we can coexist on this planet then your money would be better spent expanding the opportunities to recognize more athletic endeavors and not looking for ways to trim the cost at the expense of a group of athletes who have faithfully supported the Olympic movement.
Add a women's lightweight 4-. Voila, done. Should have been done years ago.
To make universality Rowing need to keep lightweight in the Olympic Program.
My son is a lightweight rower and a two time National Champion. Rowing is his greatest passion and he dedicates himself daily and tirelessly to this incredible sport. Lightweight rowers are unbelievably disciplined due to the need to maintain their strength and athleticism, while at the same time their weight! Maintaining lightweight rowing in the olympics is essential and only fair when considering all athletes in this sport. It would be devastating not to do so!
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