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Helseth siblings represent Norway in Olympic rowing competition in Paris

Wednesday 24th 2024 on 09:53 in  
Norway

On Tuesday, the sibling duo from Ålesund boarded a flight from Gardermoen to Paris, where they will soon compete in the Olympics. Both have chances to earn medals, with Thea Helseth (28) set for her first Olympic appearance, marking the first time since 1996 that Norway has female rowers at the Games. “I’m excited and very nervous. I’ve tried my best to prepare for how big this will be, but I don’t think I fully grasp it yet,” she said.

Thea’s brother, Martin Helseth (30), previously competed in the Tokyo Olympics, finishing ninth in the quad scull. “This time feels even more special. I rowed alongside my idol Olaf Tufte then, but the experience was muted due to strict COVID regulations. Now, the atmosphere will be different.”

Rowing events in Paris will occur from July 27 to August 3. Thea will compete in double sculls with Inger Seim Kavlie, a partnership that has yielded impressive results, including a gold medal at the European Championships. They are both aiming for the podium, acknowledging the challenges ahead while keeping their ambitions high.

On the other hand, Martin will team up with Kjetil Borch for the double sculls. Having just formed their partnership, they are keen to see how they measure up against the international competitors. While they aspire to reach the semifinals, they hope to advance further and contend for a medal.

Both siblings share mutual admiration, with Martin praising Thea’s discipline and focus as an athlete, and Thea acknowledging Martin as one of her greatest inspirations. Their participation is historic for both Aalesunds Roklub and Norway, as they represent the only competitive female rower and two athletes in different boats.

The club’s chairman emphasized the impact of their participation on recruitment, highlighting that Thea’s recent achievements have elevated local interest in rowing. The entire club is eagerly anticipating their Olympic performances.

Source 
(via nrk.no)