Small earthquake, on the water body of the DC park in Honiara, this Tuesday morning. For the first time in the history of the Pacific Games, the Caledonian women’s V6 beat Tahiti and won gold. A perfectly controlled race from the Cagoues, who resisted the canoe led by the fenua rowers until the end of the 500 m.
At the helm, Rosemelle Terii, Cynthia Mainguet, Marcy Manate, Meane Temauri, Nathalie Viratelle and Moetuari Manate. Six names which enter directly into the legend of Caledonian rowing.
At the end of the 500 m straight, the Cagoues are exultant, they have just achieved the feat: winning the V6 500 m at the Pacific Games in front of Tahiti. “We did it !”, exclaims Rosemelle Terii, the captain. “We gave everything, and we were able to maintain the lead we had acquired from the start.”
From the playoffs, the two teams were neck and neck. Tahiti wins its race. Caledonia too, with a very close time, and an advantage of only a handful of tenths of a second for the fenua rowers.
But now, the Cagoues were stung the day before, with a narrow defeat against Tahiti in V12. “We quickly recovered after our silver medal. We got together and explained things to each other. Always with this desire to maintain cohesion.”
The disappointment served as extra soul this Tuesday. “They had to wash away the insult of the day before.” asks Richard Drouet, president of the Caledonian va’a and kayak league. “They could beat Tahiti, but they were unlucky to catch a wave halfway through and let Tahiti slip away.”
This time the body of water was completely flat. No wave to disturb the rowers and it was therefore by the strength of the arms that the decision was made. “They got ahead from the start, analyzes Richard Drouet. And when the Tahitian women wanted to react, it was already too late.”
After the men in 2019, it is therefore up to the women of the Caledonian va’a to finally put an end to the domination of Tahiti. It had lasted for almost 30 years.
Another gold medal obtained this Tuesday morning in Honiara, that of the K2 duo. After three points races, two on Monday and one today, the Cagous finished at the top of the K2 rankings. The girls have to settle for bronze after three rounds. In K1, for the ladies, Charlotte Robin won bronze after the final.
For their part, the V6 boys finished in bronze over 500 m, behind Tahiti, and Wallis and Futuna.
2023-11-28 02:09:30
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