Rower flies the flag of Uruguay

Rower flies the flag at the Opening Ceremony

Although Rodolfo Collazo Tourn is competing at his third Olympic Games, London 2012 is extra special for him as he had the honour of carrying the flag for Uruguay at the Opening Ceremony.

The Olympic Rowing Regatta traditionally starts the day after the Opening Ceremony, so many rowers do not attend. However Collazo says that because his country sent a small delegation of athletes, he felt it was important to represent Uruguay. “It is a privilege,” he says.

Taking part in the Opening Ceremony also gave Collazo the opportunity to meet several athletes he had not seen since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Rowing is held in high regard in Uruguay, as it is the sport that won the most Olympic medals for the country (three bronze medals and one silver medal between 1932 and 1952), but it is not yet popular in terms of participation. This makes it challenging to find sponsorship, so Collazo’s family have supported his rowing career since 1996.

Collazo is understandably very close to his family. “Three weeks before the Games I received a phone call telling me that I was going to be carrying the flag at the Opening Ceremony. It was spectacular! I was surrounded by my family and we all cried and hugged,” he said smiling, “It was very emotional, just fantastic.”

While Collazo’s wife has not been able to travel to Great Britain to watch him race, his parents will be in the grandstands to watch their son start his first race in Heat Four of the lightweight men’s double today.

Collazo is delighted to be competing at his third Olympic Games: “When I qualified at the Latin American Qualification Regatta it was very emotional. It was incredibly satisfying. You cannot buy that feeling.”

Via: http://www.worldrowing.com/