TWO Tasmanian rowers are hanging on to their Rio Olympic lifeline.
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The Australian crews containing Hobart duo Georgia Nesbitt and Meaghan Volker both finished third in their heats at the final selection regatta for the Rio Games in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Nesbitt, 24, of Huon, and Queenslander Hannah Every-Hall finished behind the Netherlands and Sweden in the lightweight women’s double scull.
The Dutch fired out of the blocks and never looked back to book an automatic spot in the final while the Australians finished eight seconds behind to progress to Tuesday’s repechage, where a top-four finish will book a place in the final.
Volker, 25, of Buckingham, helped the women’s eight to a strong start but favourites Romania led from start to finish and The Netherlands pulled away to take second.
Both crews require a top-two finish in the final to qualify for Rio, with both Tasmanians seeking to join Kerry Hore who has already qualified in the women’s quad sculls.
Also seeking to progress to Rio this week is Frankford weightlifter Jenna Myers.
The 28-year-old is in Fiji contesting the Oceania championships which double as the Olympic selection event.
Along with compatriots Tia-Clair Toomey, Erika Ropati-Frost, Pip Malone, Kiana Elliot and Seen Lee, Myers must help Australia qualify a quota spot for the women’s competition in Rio before battling each other to claim it.
If Australia does qualify a quota, then the athlete with the highest percentage total above the Rio qualifier in both the men’s and women’s events will secure their spot.
Meanwhile, Olympic mountain bike hopeful Scott Bowden had a disappointing day at the second round of the sport’s world cup in Albstadt, Germany.
The Hobart rider was unable to complete the race after fighting illness for a week.
“Sometimes the body says no,” Bowden said on Facebook. “It was always going to be a gamble but you never know unless you try. Super frustrating not to have the opportunity to give it everything in good health but am looking forward to getting better and hopefully have a good crack next week in La Bresse.”
Launceston trampoline gymnast Jack Penny is preparing to compete in the senior international men’s event and final Olympic selection trial at the Australian championships in Melbourne.