Rowers from Holy Rosary School (HRS), Jeanne Riemann, Emma Gomes and Hanna Roetger, took to international waters when they represented South Africa at the World Rowing Junior Championships.
Gomes and Riemann, Grade 12 learners, and Roetger, a Grade 11 learner, competed in the championships in Paris in August.
Riemann rowed in the U19 woman’s double with Danni Price-Hughes of St Marys and competed against 24 countries in this class.
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According to the marketing manager of HRS, Kenda Knowles, the duo rowed exceptionally well.
On their way to the ‘A’ final, they beat strong rowing countries like the USA, France, Belgium, China, Spain, Australia and Germany.
They finished sixth overall at the championships and set a new South African women’s U19 doubles record.
Gomes and Roetger rowed in the U19 woman’s quad (X4) race, rowing with Sinead Erasmus and Reece Mc Gregor, also of St Mary’s.
They made it to the ‘B’ final, finishing in 11th place.
This is the second consecutive year they selected Riemann and Gomes for the South African squad.
Knowles said they continue to excel locally and internationally.
Gomes has received several overseas scholarship offers.
She has, however, chosen to continue her rowing career in South Africa whilst studying chiropractic at UJ next year.
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Gomes hopes to make the national U23 team and compete in the Student World Games.
Like Gomes, Riemann has had several scholarship offers from state and Ivy League American universities.
She has chosen the University of Alabama, where she will study aeronautical engineering for four years, starting next September.
Additionally, Riemann will start training with the U23 national squad at the end of this year.
She is training with the squad, hoping to qualify for the U23 World Rowing Championships next year.
Once she has obtained her degree, Riemann plans to finish her post-grad in the UK.
In the UK, Riemann envisions racing in the world-renowned Oxford vs Cambridge boat race before she returns home to continue rowing for South Africa.