Germany nominates first four boats for Beijing Olympics

(BEIJING, June 27) -- Marcel Hacker, Germany's top sculler, has been selected to participate in the men's single event at the Beijing Olympics. Three other boats have also been announced by the German Rowing Federation.

Christiane Huth and Annekatrin Thiele, taking second and third place this season at the Lucerne and Munich Rowing World Cup competitions, will make their Olympic debut as rowers in the women's double.

Lightweight women's double rowers, Marie-Lousie Draeger and Berit Carow, clinched their Olympic berths after finishing second at the Poznan Rowing World Cup. This will be their first OIympic Games.

Kathrin Boron, Britta Oppelt, Manuela Lutze and Stephanie Schiller will compete in the women's quad at the Summer Olympics. 38-year-old Boron, with four previous Olympic gold medals in the quad and double, will compete for her fifth gold in Beijing.