Tokyo—Cris Nievarez may have finished fifth in his quarterfinal group in the men’s single sculls’ rowing competitions of the Summer Olympic Games on Sunday at the Sea Forest Waterway here.
But there is no other way but up for the 21-year-old Nievarez, one of the youngest in the 19-strong Team Philippines in these quadrennial summer games.
“His performance is beyond expectations. Commendable,” said Philippines Rowing Association president Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said. “Focused training here and abroad, Cris will really improve.”
Against his more experienced rivals, the first-time Olympian didn’t disappoint during his Olympic debut, earning a quarterfinal seat on Friday with a strong 7:22.97 finish in the 2,000-meter course.
“This will be a major learning experience for Cris,” said Magnum Membrere, a former Philippine Basketball Association pro player, who turned to rowing and is now treasurer of the PRA. “He’s young and he’s determined.”
Against bigger and stronger rowers with more experience, Nievarez, the only Southeast rower to qualify here, could only finish fifth in his quarterfinal group on Sunday with a time of seven minutes and 50.74 seconds, about half a minute slower than his Friday time.
“Headwind kasi today, hindi kagaya noong Friday,” said Nievarez, who will still row in Monday’s classification semifinals. “Advantage sa mga rowers na mas malalaki at mas mabigat.”
Germany’s Oliver Zeidler (7:12.75) and Brazil’s Luca Verthein Ferreira (7:14.26) topped Nievarez’s group in the quarterfinals.
“Malaking bagay ang experience na nakuha ko dito sa Tokyo Olympics, sabi nga ni Sir Magnum, learning experience,” Nievarez said. “Malaking dahilan ito para pagbubutihin ko pa at aasamin na makarating ako sa Paris [2024 Olympics]. Nakita ko na rin and mga strength ng mga kalaban at alam ko na kung anong aspects ang kailangan i-improve.”
