FISA Rowing World Cup Regatta 2009: ICBC’s Adam Freeman-Pask has won a bronze medal for lightweight single sculls at the Rowing World Cup in Banyoles, Spain. Freeman-Pask replaced Olympic gold medallist Zac Purchase (due to illness) as the GB representative in the men's lightweight single claiming his first international medal at senior level. Earlier this year he convincingly won the third phase of GB Rowing Winter Assessment Trials at Boston Lincolnshire and was subsequently placed in the top lightweight pair of the country. After an average performance from the Lwt 2- last month at GB Final Trials, Freeman-Pask moved back to the single scull for the first of three World Cup regattas. This is the first time a student from Imperial has won a sculling medal at a World Cup regatta. This latest achievement places Freeman-Pask in a very strong position for selection to the GB squad for the Olympics in 2012; especially as the only GB lightweight to medal at the regatta.

Freeman-Pask competed in the second of three heats in the LM1x event against Italy, The Netherlands, Denmark and Croatia. Freeman-Pask took the lead recording the fastest opening 500 metres of all races in this event. The lickety split clocked as 01:43.6. However the blistering start began to take it’s toll on the IC sculler and by the 1000 metre mark he had slipped down the pack desperately searching for his mojo. Qualifying was first three to semi-final and fourth to rep; Freeman-Pask finished fourth in 07:18.14 in what would become the fastest heat of the event.

In the repêchage (scenic route) Freeman-Pask went out in first again, but this time sustained his Austin Power throughout the race winning outright in 07:13.22; comfortably progressing to the next stage. In the semi-final he left the blocks in fourth position where he remained until the 1000 metre mark. With 500 metres to go he had slipped back into fifth position. The early conservation of energy payed dividends and in the last quarter of the race Freeman-Pask made his move and sprinted through to finish second in 07:15.48, just 0:0.39 seconds behind Mads Rasmussen (DEN), setting him up as a definite contender for the final.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my underground lair. I have gathered here before me the world's deadliest assassins.”
Six athletes lined up representing Greece (Vasileios Polymeros), Italy (Lorenzo Bertini), Denmark (Mads Rasmussen), The Netherlands (Timothee Heijbrock), France (Jeremie Azou) and Imperial College Boat Club (Adam Freeman-Pask). From the start it was the two Olympic medallists (in the 2x’s event) Rasmussen and Polymeros who broke away first. At the halfway mark thirty-three year old Italian Lorenzo Bertini had moved out in front ahead of Polymeros and Ramussen. Bertini made his move too early and could not hold the pace. This allowed Polymeros to take pole position and with 500 metres to go Bertini was clinging onto the silver medal position. Opening leader Rasmussen was now paying for the bat out of hell first 500 metres and began to slowly fall back down the pack. Meanwhile ICBC’s Adam Freeman-Pask, cool as a cucumber, was holding a steady rhythm in fourth and was able to row through the blown Dane into third position. Freeman-Pask held his placing for the last 500 metres closing the race with a sprint for the line claiming his first senior GB medal. Final result: Gold to Polymeros [7:09.12] (GRE), silver to Bertini [07:12.15] (Italy) and bronze to Freeman-Pask [07:14.14] (GB).

"I think you're shagedelic baby! You're switched on! You're smashing! You're shagadelic, baby!"
Pask-mania has returned to ICBC with the general mood elevated at the mere mention of the stretching bundle of joy. At a recent pilates session, strength and conditioning guru John Calvert was demonstrating the “ball roll” which involves holding the ankles and rolling back and forth on a mat. Noticing ICBC rowers looking longingly beyond Calvert to the newly installed rack of dumbbells, it was time for some psychological motivation; “AFP is obsessed with this exercise. He does it all the time.” The AFP roller has also come back into mainstream ICBC use following a short lull since Pask’s trials win. Words of wisdom from Bronzeman-Pask are being passed around the club quicker than SMW: “Abductors, hip flexors and then hamstrings, in that order. You can get a better stretch on the hamstrings by loosening the abductors and hip-flexors first.” You know who told me that? Pask did? FACT”. That’s how ICBC likes to roll. ICBC’s press officer has been approached to take a full-time role on the GB squad as personal press aid to Freeman-Pask. Contracts are currently under negotiation.

Christina Freeman-Duffy

Courtesy of Dr. Evilop:

• He pisses on the loo seat. Lots.
• His favourite artist is Phil Collins (seriously).
• He's a prolific cereal thief. And blames Ole.
• He can't handle scary films.
• It takes 2 pints to get him hammered, at which point he adopts his alter ego 'Buzz': lock up your daughters.
• Yes, he dresses like that out of choice.
• He's been given the keys to the city of Windsor.
• He is Feltham Young Offenders Institute's alumnus of the month.
• He's an expert in "Science Communication". Look it up.
• His trick-sculling skills got him through to the preliminary rounds of Britain's got Talent. He was kicked off for sleeping with Amanda Holden. True story.
• Surprisingly, he got a clean bill of health from the GUM clinic. They're re-checking the samples now.
• He's been given an honourary A-level by Windsor boys school. It was a B.

“Adam is the Barack Obama of IC rowing, a sculler we can believe in. He alone has the power to rally our flagging spirits and urge us forward to new heights and glories. With Adam all things are possible.” Chris Pollock

“Pask's Ninja quotes are awesome owing to their ambiguity... ‘Just slip it in like a Ninja... it’s speed and stealth.’ Some believe he is talking about ‘The Catch’ as in Rowing. Others believe he is referring to ‘The Catch’ as in the process of finding fast female companionship. If you have seen him in a club you will know that it is definitely the second.” Bruce Arnott

"I love you. Please can we try again?" Rachael Davies

"Adam Freeman-Pask? I would." Ben Anstiss

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