Event: Single scull rowing
Who is she? Born in Latvia, 30-year-old Sanita Puspure is set to become Ireland’s first female rower at the Olympics since 1980 when Frances Cryan finished seventh in the single scull.
With medals at the World U23 Championship and the World Student Games on her CV, she moved to Dublin in 2006 when her husband found work in Ireland. She won the national senior sculls title in 2009 and again in 2010 before relocating to Cork to be closer to the National Rowing Centre in Inniscarra.
Puspure received her Irish passport in 2011 and immediately began representing Ireland at international level.
Road to London: With only four Olympic places available, Puspure needed to be at her best in the qualifying race in Lucerne in March. Although she was handed a particularly tough draw in lane six, she battled to finish fourth and seal that final spot.
What she says about herself: On qualifying for the Olympics — “It’s the biggest achievement I’ve done so far. Four years ago, I probably would never have dreamed about it.” (Afloat.ie)
Medal chances? Puspure and Ireland’s high performance director Martin McElroy have targeted the B Final (places 7-12) as a minimum in London this summer. With the right draw and a bit of luck, she could go one better. Jimmy says two…
If you meet her in a bar, ask her… which does she prefer – Dublin or Cork?
On the Twitter: Unfortunately Sanita isn’t on the Twitter herself but if it’s rowing news you seek, meet the guys behind Rowing Ireland’s High Performance Programme. They’re @RIHPP.
If she was a YouTube video, she’d be… something good in the water, like this diving dog. “Don’t think about it!”
YouTube credit: jmiller2107
Cheating the first time is difficult but it’s get easier every time. If world athletics bodies are serious there should be a lifetime ban for every offender, no excuses.
@EK:
Exactly, This can be easily done by making it too risky to cheat with illegal performance enhancers, a lifetime ban is the only way for proven cheats.
It’s a pretty big jump to drag Justin into this story other than for clickbait….and if I was offered 250,000 dollars I’d get my hands on some performance enhancing drugs for you too.
@Markonline: ah do you not think the PEDs made that jump a bit easier ??
@Limón Madrugada: it’s his coaches, not Gatlin.
@Markonline: Fair play, its all about the way you were brought up i suppose….
@Minom Pnnomm: so he did win a gold on drugs.
Hgh is everywhere..athletics and most sports at the highest level are a game of not getting caught
“Why always me?”
What a dope
How does this implicate Gatlin? Surely this applies to the BBC sports personality Of The year.
@Darren Egan: good point on the double standards. Plenty of potentially dodge English athletes. Farah and Kelly Holmes at the top of the list
Sir Bradley Williams…sky cycling in general
Who honestly gives a crap. So he runs one hundred metres really fast. Who gives a crap. I still have to go to work in the morning
Gatlin should have never been allowed to compete after the first time. Cheats have destroyed genuine competitors lives and taken the accolades deserving to them, Sonia O’ Sullivan comes to mind.
Seb Coe – what a clown
@Shane Gleeson: disaster of a tenure in his job generally.
And still the British press ignore the stink surrounding Mo Farah.
Anyone on a TUE from Waa is a cheat in my book, I think they are ALL on drugs but that is my personal opinion?