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“It just came to our notice then. Maybe there was a lack of training since May, when we were third and the Russians, I think, became unfair. So we stopped working in four places. We have improved a lot since the spring,” said the 24-year-old rower.
The four-seater Lithuanian was last in the first swim – the fifth – and will compete in the consolation swim on Saturday, where there are still chances of winning a place in the next stage, but they are very fragile.
D. Nemeravičius did not hide that everything would be different, except for the International Swimming Federation (FISA) and Russia.
It was at the Olympics that the Russians, who had neither an anthem nor a flag because of a string of doping scandals, pulled their ticket from the Lithuanian quadrant to the Tokyo Games in May. Then, in the selection process, the Lithuanians succumbed to Russia and Estonia.
Soon, the Lithuanian Rowing Federation organized a selection for two venues and finally drew up a plan for the Olympics. The four-seater did not train specifically.
“The problem of a double had to be solved, so it was chosen there, and what was left here stayed,” said D. Nemeravičius.
The four-seater Lithuanian flew to the Tokyo Games with the help of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LTOK), because the Japanese, who have introduced the strict COVID-19 protocol, are not always famous for their flexibility.
Just before the Olympics, it became clear that two members of the Russian rowing team who participated in the selection had used the banned drug Meldonium. The Lithuanians initially hoped this would open the door to the Olympics, but the Russians played their game: they disqualified both athletes and used the rules to put others in their place.
This satisfied FISA. Hope is extinguished.
“I was surprised by the disability of the International Rowing Federation in this matter, a radical change. There are all kinds of versions of why they behaved this way.
It saddened me because hope was shining. He hoped the international federation would avoid dirty sports.
Perhaps the Russians did everything according to the required dates, but from a moral point of view, it was completely unfair from Russia. Everyone understood that. I was hoping for the right solution, but decided “according to the rules,” said D. Nemeravičius.
But just before the Games, on July 18, Russia announced that after replacing the two athletes, its four-seater was too weak and would not send them to the Olympics. In the sports racer it is said that this is only the official version, and the other is not so beautiful.
In any case, the number of Lithuanian Olympians increased from 37 to 41.
And although the deserved place has been obtained, D. Nemeravičius emphasizes that the members of the four-seater found themselves in a disrespectful situation.
“Inside – mixed feelings. Both angry and sad. Athletes are in great shape, they are preparing. Not the place to start” from the stomach. “
There is no success here, there has to be a lot of purposeful work that we lack. What we have shown today is far from being the best we can do, ”said the rower.
The greatest consolation becomes the attention and encouragement that rivals receive.
“It just came to our attention then. When someone wins, wins a place and expels others … The Olympics are a dream and everyone knows how expensive they are.
And when you are so disadvantaged, you feel supported. You carry oars: everyone claps, writes messages of support on social media. The interest and support are inhuman. We are not leaders, but they support us, “said D. Nemeravičius.
