Makovicka and Chalupa in, Austrian pair out

(BEIJING, July 13) -- Czech rowers Jakub Makovicka and Vaclav Chalupa are going to the Beijing Olympic Games next month.

With only the top two boats in the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poznan, Poland, qualifying for Beijing, Makovicka and Chalupa, who came in third in the Men's Pair, originally missed their chance by just 0.57 seconds. But Makovicka and Chalupa were given a second chance when the Austrian pair that had previously qualified withdrew from the Olympic roster because they did not meet the standard set by their national Olympic committee, which required that Austrian crews going to the Olympics had to be ranked among the top nine in the world,

The International Rowing Federation decided to award Olympic spot that opened up to the Czech pair.

It will be the second Olympics for Makovicka and a record-sixth appearance for Chalupa.