– It is very special to comment on an Instagram picture. Then we are on a new level, says Skarstein to news. The judges had caught sight of a picture Skarstein had shared of her boat, and reacted particularly to the strap she had over her knees. TYDELEG: This picture was published by Skarstein on his Instagram profile. Photo: Screen dump @birgitskarstein / PRIVATE It has a hem on it, and is two-part in the form that it can be tightened on both the left and right side. The extra tightening did not please the judges, who immediately took action on the first training day in Munich. Strange situation In the e-mail from the para-commission, it was stated that they were unsure whether it was permissible to have an extra hem for tightening. This is not regulated in the regulations. According to the regulations, the strap must open in one movement and the same way, to ensure that the athlete can easily remove it if they fall into the water. Skarstein has ensured this with a “quick release”. As they were unsure how this was to be enforced, the boat could risk being rejected in the EC. She received that message this month, when she was at a training camp at Juvasshytta. Skarstein is amazed at the professionalism when an Instagram photo got the commission to get in touch. – It is very strange that they have approved it at all previous regattas. This strap has been legal for two years, says Skarstein and adds that it is the same strap she used when she won gold in the Paralympics in Tokyo. After Skarstein received the email, she had to find an emergency solution. On Wednesday night, she happily praised herself for doing it. This is what the strap itself looks like. Here is the lock that he can easily open. And here is the problem. On the left side, Skarstein can tighten the strap even more. Dramatic hours After Skarstein finished his first session at the rowing stadium in Munich on Wednesday morning, he invited the judges to examine the equipment, to make sure it would be approved. She was to be notified an hour later. UNCERTAIN: Here is the referee looking at Skarstein’s strap. He took several pictures and was extremely unsure whether the boat was legal. Photo: Synne Sofie Christiansen / news The decision took a lot of time. When Skarstein went back for her second training session of the day, just under four hours later, she still hadn’t been told whether the strap had been approved. What she found out was that they wanted her to change it, and there would be consequences if it wasn’t done. – When they say that they really appreciate it if I can change it, and that they will come up with a reason why, then I can choose to say that it is ten past six, and I have a race early tomorrow, she explains and continues: – Then I just change it and focus on that race. And then we’ll have to deal with it afterwards, I think. It was a sub-optimal solution. Now she is terribly excited about how Thursday’s qualification will go. Important equipment Fortunately, Skarstein had been able to make a new strap, in case she did not get the usual strap approved. She calls it a “crisis strap”. – We threw ourselves around and made a crisis team, which I picked up in Oslo on Monday. It is not as good, and has only been thrown together to be approved, she says. At 18.30 on Wednesday evening, Skarstein and the support apparatus had to make changes to the competition boat. The two-piece strap was replaced with a single one. Skarstein thus got a session on the water with the new strap, before the qualifying heat on Thursday morning. The strap she usually uses is the most important strap on the entire rowing set, she explains further. – I am dependent on tightening my knees, because I cannot put them in place myself. I need it to push my legs into place, so that I get as much strength as possible over the years. If I don’t push so hard, I lose power, says Skarstein. It can be decisive in a marginal sport such as rowing, she says. – It does not have the extra tightening so that I am pushed all the way in. The tightening will be a single round instead of a double round, she says and continues: – The sitting position becomes more unstable, and there is a greater risk of hooking the thumb in the strap. Fortunately, Skarstein had a session with the new strap, before competition day on Thursday. – It is very unfavorable to change equipment so shortly before, but I am glad I am so old and experienced. I’m not easily swayed by the stick, she says. On Thursday at 09.00, Birgit Skarstein will row the qualification heat in the EC. You can see that on news.
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