Ekaterina Karsten Athlete Date of Birth: 02.06.1972 Country: Belarus

1. Ekaterina Karsten: The Only Olympic Champion from Belarus
2. Early Career and Olympic Success
3. The Road to Olympic Gold
4. Continued Success and Challenges

Ekaterina Karsten: The Only Olympic Champion from Belarus

Ekaterina Karsten, formerly known as Khodotovich, is a Soviet and Belarusian rower. She is currently the only Olympic champion from sovereign Belarus. She won this gold medal four years ago in Atlanta. However, little is known that this was her second Olympics and second medal. Her first medal, a bronze, was obtained in Barcelona '92 as part of the pair's four in the unified team of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Early Career and Olympic Success

Karsten's early success came quickly. In 1990, she became the world champion among juniors in the single sculls. The following season, she finished third in the open category at the World Championships. As the Olympic year approached, there was a risk that she would not be selected for the national team. Therefore, her coach Anatoly Kvyatkovsky decided to form a competitive four in which another one of his students, Moscow Olympic champion Elena Khloptseva, would row. Girls from Moscow and Ukraine were also added to the team. As a result, only this team won a medal. No other team from the CIS national team (neither men's nor women's) could achieve this.

In Barcelona, Karsten recalls her first Olympics as an unfamiliar experience. She was amazed by the large number of athletes, coaches, celebrities, and the gigantic Olympic dining hall. The team primarily lived in Basiolis, about 40-50 kilometers away from Barcelona, where the rowing competitions took place. Despite the distance, it was still very interesting. The scorching heat was present in both Spain and four years later in America. In Atlanta, she rowed in the pair's four, sitting in the third seat, and finished third. In the post-Olympic year of 1993, Karsten and Khloptseva competed in the double sculls at the World Championships for Belarus and finished fifth. When Khloptseva retired, the head coach of the national team, Sinelshchikov, wanted Karsten to row in his crew. However, she did not like this idea and went to Russia. After a few months, she returned to Belarus. Vladimir Nikolaevich Ryzhenkov, the chairman of the State Sports Committee of Belarus, did not grant her permission to train only with her coach Kvyatkovsky. She wanted to compete in the single sculls, as she preferred rowing alone. In a double or a quadruple, one depends on partners, and personal preferences cannot be imposed. She loves her independence, where no one bothers her, and she does not bother anyone.

The Road to Olympic Gold

Karsten's journey to Olympic gold began in the 1995 World Championships in Finland, where Olympic licenses were at stake. Although she did not qualify for the main final, she won the consolation race and finished seventh overall. She was assigned the task of placing in the top six when signing a contract with the Ministry of Sports for the Olympic year. At that time, Canadian Silken Laumann and Dane Trine Hansen dominated the water. Journalists followed Laumann closely, capturing every word and action on videotape. Karsten competed against Laumann and lost by a small margin. However, they planned their peak form specifically for the Olympics. In Atlanta, Karsten won the preliminary race and was placed in the same heat as Laumann in the semifinals. Kvyatkovsky suggested a trick. During the finish, when Laumann accelerated, Karsten let her pass, finishing second and simulating fatigue. Later, Karsten observed Laumann reviewing the video recording of the race and presumably noticing her "exhaustion." In the final, Karsten started her sprint 250 meters before the finish line, catching Laumann off guard. Karsten crossed the finish line ahead of her opponent by more than the length of a boat. Laumann was visibly disappointed. After the Olympics, she retired from sports and soon became a mother.

Continued Success and Challenges

Karsten continued to achieve remarkable success after her Olympic victory. In 1997, she won all races, including World Cup stages and the World Championships. The following year, she decided to take a break from rowing to start a family. Kvyatkovsky supported her decision, understanding the importance of family life for a woman. During her pregnancy, Karsten trained for the first two months before fully focusing on her maternal responsibilities. Doping was never a concern for them as they both trusted each other. Karsten's coach, Kvyatkovsky, is dedicated to his work and often believes that the workload is not enough. Karsten tries her best to meet his expectations, but she has expressed concerns about the excessive workload. When Kvyatkovsky saw that the biochemical indicators confirmed her feelings, he adjusted the training load accordingly.

As the Sydney Olympics approached, Karsten faced strong competition, particularly from Bulgarian rower Rumyana Neykova. In Amsterdam, Karsten won against Neykova by less than two seconds. Both Neykova and experienced German rower Kathrin Rutschow-Stomporowski are known to perform exceptionally well at major events. However, anything can happen in the Olympics, making it challenging for Karsten to secure another victory. Despite the pressure to win gold, any Olympic medal is highly regarded. The support for Karsten extends beyond her immediate family, with her mother, siblings, and the residents of her hometown of Osechino in the Krupsky district all eagerly anticipating her success. The entire nation of Belarus, as well as the readers of "BDG" (Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta), are also rooting for her.

Karsten's success can be attributed to her talent, hard work, and calm demeanor. She remains focused during training and even falls asleep in the car. She trains at the Minsk rowing base, where they recently acquired expensive Concept rowing machines, allowing for comprehensive simulation of race conditions. Karsten also obtained a new boat from the "Empacher" company. The Minsk region supports her by maintaining the road to her hometown, providing training uniforms, and taking care of her needs. She is deserving of such support.