Niger's Hamadou Djibo Issaka smiles after a men's rowing single sculls semifinal in Eton Dorney, near Windsor, England, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
WINDSOR, England - Thanks for the memories, Hamadou. See you in Rio.
Niger rower Hamadou Djibo Issaka, nicknamed the "Sculling Sloth" because of his painfully slow performances at the London Games, took to the water Friday for the last time at the Olympic regatta.
Up against two other Africans in the 'F' final to determine the lesser placings, Djibo Issaka again came last by some distance in a time of 8 minutes, 53.88 seconds — 14 seconds quicker than his last row but 80 seconds behind the winner. The crowd gave him another huge roar as he crossed the line.
The 35-year-old Djibo Issaka, who only had three months of rowing experience before coming to Dorney Lake, plans to stay in the sport and compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
