THE SPORT OF ROWING Since it was added to the Olympic program in 1996, the lightweight double sculls has become one of the most competitive events in the world, and the two boats from Italy and Poland have had a most wonderful rivalry. It began in 1997 when Pettinari, already twice World Champion in the lightweight pairs and fours, was still with his original double-partner, Michelangelo Crispi. That year and in 1998, it was Poland Gold, Italy Silver. In 1999, the Poles had to drop out in St. Catharines due to illness, and the Italians won in their place. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Kucharski and Sycz won, with Pettinari and his young new partner, Elia Luini, second. Then 2001, 2002 and 2003 were three straight years of Italy first and Poland second. In 2004, Luini set a new ergometer World Record in January,7704 but after the Italians arrived in Athens, Pettinari suffered a rib fracture just before the regatta,7705 and their double failed to make the final, as Kucharski and Sycz won their second consecutive Olympic Gold Medal. Athens turned out to be the last meeting of these two boats. After the Games, the Italian Double broke up, and Pettinari took on another partner. In 2005, Kucharski was injured, and Sycz was also rowing with a new partner. The final tally at the end of this great rivalry stood at four World Championships for Italy and two World and two Olympic Championships for Poland. These were two great boats rowing two opposite techniques! American coach Tom Terhaar: “It was interesting to see the two lightweight doubles essentially the same speed. Both those boats were incredible physiological machines.”7706 7704 Moag, op. cit., p. 58 7705 Topolski, FISA 2004 DVD 7706 Terhaar, personal conversation, 2004 FISA 2002 DVD FISA 2004 DVD Stroke Leonardo Pettinari 5’11” 181cm 157lb. 71kg Bow Elia Luini 6’0” 184cm 157lb. 71kg Champion 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 Bow Tomasz Kucharski 5’11” 181cm 169lb. 72kg Stroke Robert Sycz 6’0” 183cm 165lb. 75kg Champion 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004 The Italian crew was one of the most accomplished and experienced crews ever put together in any rowing event. Pettinari had won Bronze in the lightweight eights in 1995 and Gold in the lightweight pairs the following year before he switched to the lightweight doubles, and Luini had been in the 1998 World Champion Lightweight Quad before joining Pettinari. 2144
