Top rower Courtney Westley has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the Women’s Single Sculls (W1X), at the 2023 World Rowing African Olympic and Paralympic Regatta in Tunis, Tunisia, from 23-26 October, 2023.
Westley’s remarkable accomplishment comes after a nail-biting race in which the SA star showcased sheer determination to finish a close second against Algeria’s formidable Nihed Benchadli, in a time of 8:03.71.
The team’s message included hearty congratulations to Westley’s coach, Thato Mokoena, whose guidance and expertise played a pivotal role in the talented rower finishing the final just 5 seconds behind Benchadli’s gold medal time.
This dynamic duo is said to be making waves in the world of rowing and paving the way for women’s rowing in Africa.
Westley has had a busy year, placing 6th at the U23 World Championships earlier this year in the women’s single scull in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, before a second-place finish at the World Student Games for Team USSA in China, at the U23 World Championships a few days later, also in the women’s single scull.
This will be the first time that RowSA have sent rowers to qualify through African continental qualification since the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
This pathway is critical to universality for rowing, and the development pathway of South Africa’s female rowers, a community which has seen a large exodus to safer harbours in the United States, commonly to row for the USA Colleges while completing a university degree.
The SA team of rowers has returned to training and are working hard for the season ahead, under RMB National Squad Coach Tiago Loureiro.
The first set of trials racing will take place at Gauteng Junior Championships at Roodeplaat Dam, from 4-5 November.
Main Photo Caption: Top rower Courtney Westley has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the Women’s Single Sculls (W1X) at the African continental qualifications, at the 2023 World Rowing African Olympic and Paralympic Regatta in Tunis, Tunisia, from 23-26 October, 2023. Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Westley succeeded after a nail-biting race in which the SA star showcased sheer determination to finish a close second against Algeria’s formidable Nihed Benchadli, with a remarkable time of 8:03.71. Photo: Supplied
Photo 3 Caption: Westley’s 2023 buildup has been inspirational,, placing 6th at the U23 World Championships in the women’s single scull in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and a second-place finish at the World Student Games for Team USSA in China, at the U23 World Championships a few days later, also in the women’s single scull. Photo: Supplied
Original Copy: Rowing South Africa
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