Andrzej Jezierski is drawn in lane 4 of his semi-final, next to the favourite from Russia Ivan Shtyl.
Jezierski has two heat winners in his semi-final.
We will be interested in Groubel here, as he won Jezierski's heat
Goubel comes in second behind the Lithuanian Shuklin.
Groubel was second. Shuklin won in 41.4. That's what Jezierski did this morning when second to Groubel.
First two qualify in each of three semi-finals. Then it's fastest losers.
Jezierski won five world championship medals from 2002-2005 before giving up and coming to Ireland to find work. Got back into it last couple of years, won Polish trial and qualified to represent them. He would have had to have been away two out of every three weeks in camps and declined the opportunity, as he has a young family.
So he applied for an Irish passport and qualified for Ireland by virtue of being fifth at the European Championships.
Conditions appear to have changed, with a headwind now. That would explain slower time.
Poland's loss is Ireland's gain.
The two quickest third-placed finishes gets through and he should finish third at worst. So the time we're looking at is third in a quicker time of 42.14. Or in the first two for a big Q.
Benavidez Lopes looked very good this morning. At 21, he's 11 years young than Jezierski.
He should be confident of making it since he was apparently going at only 95% speed in his heat this morning.
A good start by Jezierski initially but he's in fifth now. That's not good, even though he's a very strong finisher
He is fourth now but didn't make it.
That is actually very disappointing. He is out.
Very surprised at that especially after his heat this morning. Wonder was it the break a couple of years ago that was the missing ingredient?
I thought he started okay but he was well done by 50m. The time of 42.12 was actually quicker than the third-placed finisher in the first heat which is in an indication of the strength of this semi-final.
@Peter Towe This was the only semi-final with two heat winners so it was the most difficult. Also, there is no question that his lay-off has had a big impact. As is the standard of training, as he trains with one other paddler in Ireland, Noel Monahan - a former world championship medallist for Ireland in rowing. In Poland, as I said earlier, he would be at a training camp two out of every three weeks.
To clarity, Noel is now a dentist, who goes down to the lake to try to help Jezierski. He is good but it is not the type of training that Jezierski would be used to in Poland, where canoe sprinting is a hugely popular and competitive sport. In Ireland, there are only a handful of people doing it.
Well, I suppose success in the canoe would have been a bonus for Ireland. It's a shame for Andrzej, but he put in a brave effort and only lost out by just over half a second.
Ironically, it's two best thirds at the Olympics to qualify. In the worlds, it's the two fastest losers. In show jumping, you hold onto your faults all the way through at worlds and Euros, in the Olympics, you start at zero again for the final. Thank God, as far as Ireland and Cian O'Connor is concerned in that instance. But funny all the same.
Jezierski just pipped Sakamoto in his heat - marginally admittedly - and the Japanase paddler has qualified for the A final. Jezierski will compete in the B final
Putting this into perspective, Jezierski didn't compete for six years from 2005-2011.
@someguy that would be the B final
Andrzej was ninth quickest with 8 going to the A final.
Best of luck to Andrzej Jezierski from cork in the 200m sprint canoe #London2012by Sell_itQuick via twitter 8/10/2012 10:15:07 AM
CORK & Ballincollig based Canoe sprint athlete Andrzej Jezierski on @teamireland wearing the #greenwhite&gold support at 11.30 am #semifinalby SportingCork via twitter 8/10/2012 10:15:57 AM
Good luck to Andrzej Jezierski in the Canoe sprint 200m semi final today! Come on Ireland! #teamIrelandby garyrquinn via twitter 8/10/2012 10:27:38 AM
Big shout out to Ireland's Andrzej Jezierski in the semi-finals of the 200m canoe sprint at 11.30. He's not mentioned much, but he is in ...by CollegeBar via twitter 8/10/2012 10:27:53 AM
Just hearing the story of Andrzej Jezierski.. think we should all get behind him today! #olympicsby Katiebguinnane via twitter 8/10/2012 10:28:02 AM
Congrats to Andrzej Jezierski on making the Semi Finals of Men Canoe Sprint C1, go make that final GO #TeamIreland #London2012by MokongX3M via twitter 8/10/2012 10:28:18 AM
Hey Poland, don't even think of claiming Andrzej Jezierski as one of your own. His full name is Ronan Andrzej Jezierski Costello.by AgedPineapple via twitter 8/10/2012 10:32:05 AM
Medal in canoe sprint? yes please, come on Andrzej Jezierski!!!by amtutty via twitter 8/10/2012 10:36:12 AM
Andrzej Jezierski (Irl) 4th in his semi C1 200m out of final. Brave effort #beproud #Olympics2012by BarryToft via twitter 8/10/2012 10:42:53 AM
Katie Taylor gone global #NYTimesby SammiLove_x via twitter 8/10/2012 10:48:36 AM
There is a few twitter pages claiming to be the official Katie Taylor page, anyone know which one is the real one?by DanFM104sport via twitter 8/10/2012 10:53:14 AM
Apparently Andrzej Jezierski has qualified for the finals, at least according to the Olympic site.
A great Euro2012 twist is that Ireland's Andrzej Jezierski is originally from Poznanby SeanOgDonovan via twitter 8/10/2012 10:56:37 AM