CRIS NIEVAREZ was cut off from the Tokyo qualifier on Friday but still has a chance to make the Olympics under the World Rowing Federation’s (FISA) qualification system that puts premium on the status of national Olympic committees (NOCs).
Based on the Olympic system, “the continental qualification regattas are open only to NOCs that have qualified in only one event or have not qualified in any event during the qualification.”
The system furthered: “The NOC may qualify a maximum of one boat. If two boats from an NOC meet the qualification criteria at Continental Qualification Regattas, then the highest-ranking boat qualifies.
“In the case that two or more boats have an equal ranking other than first place, the NOC shall select one of these boats to qualify for the Games,” the system also stated.
“I was enlightened because we focused too much on the competition. Our secretary-general, Jercyl Lerin, clarified to us that Cris has a chance,” head coach Edgardo Maerina said. “For now, we have to wait for the announcement of the FISA. It is a good development for everybody.”
Maerina said the FISA would make the announcement in two to three weeks time.
Nievarez, 21, finished ninth in the men’s singles sculls semifinals on Friday to miss the quota—top five rowers—for Olympic qualification.
Each country, Maerina said, could only field one participant in each of the four events in Tokyo—men and women’s singles and doubles sculls.
“If they have two or three qualified athletes [from the regattas], they must choose only one for the Olympics,” he said.
Japan swept the four-event qualifying races but as host, it could be privileged to enter two rowers, Maerina said.
Iran, Kazakhstan, India, Uzbekistan and Vietnam earned at least two berths each for the Olympics while Chinese-Taipei got one at the World Rowing Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo Bay.
Maerina, Nievarez and teammates Melcah Caballero, Roque Abala, Zuriel Sumintac and Joanie Delgaco arrived from Japan on Saturday night and are completing a 10-day quarantine in a Pasay City hotel.