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Weeds mar kayak course
Posted: Friday March 31, 2000 02:51 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Olympic gold medalist Clint Robinson said the Sydney 2000 rowing and kayaking venue risked being a "$70 million embarrassment" after he snagged weed during the Australian kayaking championships. Robinson, the K1 1000 meters gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, placed second Friday in the final of the Australian championships, saying after the race that he had a clump of weed stuck to his kayak for 300 meters (yards). Robinson was favored to win the race but said he had to dodge weed in his lane. He finished behind Nathan Baggaley. The program was delayed earlier Friday while weed was cleared from the course. Robinson said national coach Barry Kelly planned to write a letter, signed by all competitors in the final, to Australian Canoeing to condemn the international regatta center at Penrith. The Atlanta bronze medalist will have to beat Baggaley in the next Olympic selection event in three weeks to have any chance of making his third Olympics. The Queenslander said if the weed problem was not address, the venue risked being a $70 million (Australian) "embarrassment." Kayakers also complained about the weed on Tuesday, while rowers complained about the man-made facility earlier this month when the Australian Rowing Championships were marred by strong winds. The course for the rowing regatta had to be altered, after two competition days were abandoned, to limit the impact of wind blowing across the lanes. The Olympic Coordination Authority, which is responsible for the building and maintenance of all Olympic venues, on Tuesday said the problem would not recur during the Games. OCA spokesman Kevin Flynn said the weeds were stirred up when rowing lanes were exchanged for kayaking lanes. Venue managers reportedly acquired a new model harvester to control the weeds, which were integral in the course design.
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