The Swiss women's quadruple sculls with Lisa Lötscher, Pascal Walker, Célia Dupré and Fabienne Schweizer were 42 hundredths short of an Olympic medal, but pride still prevailed.
When Lisa Lötscher and Pascale Walker are asked about the 42 hundredths in the mixed zone, their eyes water. But their emotions quickly turn as they talk about their race, and then the words just gush out of them. "To be honest, it was our best competition of our career so far," says Walker. "We threw everything we could into it and should be proud. But of course that's exactly what you don't want: fourth place so close to the medal." Lötscher added that they had rowed so consistently here, improving in every race: "Today we just flew. What more could you want, we can't blame ourselves."
Crying with joy too
The Swiss women rowing on the outside lane didn't even realize that the fight for the podium was so close. "I thought we were fighting for fourth place," says Walker. When they realized how little was missing, "we all started to cry".
However, Lötscher emphasized: "But also with joy. It was a relief, a release and also cool." The two were also delighted with the atmosphere. "It was so loud towards the end of the race that we couldn't really hear Fabienne's commands. We'll take all that with us."
Promising prospects
It should not be forgotten that the qualification for Paris alone was a success. Never before has a Swiss big boat competed in the women's event at the Olympic Games. And the prospects are promising. Dupré will be 23 years old on August 30, while Lötscher recently celebrated her 24th birthday. Schweizer and Walker were born in 1997 and 1995 respectively.
First of all, however, Lötscher is now looking forward to a longer break. "We rowers have three weeks' vacation a year. Now it's time to fill the tank again. After all, family and friends are also part of life." Walker has left it open as to whether she will continue. She will definitely take the next season off and then see "what time brings". Six months ago, with the injury, it was clear to her that she would not take on the big effort again. "But after this race, I don't think I can stop. Otherwise they would be fast without me." The 26-year-old Sofia Meakin also has a lot of potential. The Swiss women's quadruple sculls should still be a lot of fun.
