Sport is one thing, love is another. German rower Jost Schomann-Finck came to Beijing not only to attend the Olympic Games but also hoping to meet a nice Chinese girl.

The 25-year-old Schomann-Finck, on his Olympic debut, told Xinhua here on Monday after the training that the competition will be very tough not only for himself but for the whole German rowing team.

"It's very difficult for Germany. I don't think Germany has any favourite boat," he said.

Schomann-Finck is in men's lightweight four, a crew who won a bronze medal in 2008 Munich World Cup. But Schomann-Finck was previously in men's lightweight eight.

Marcel Hacker is Schomann-Finck's teammate and a bronze medalist in 2000 Sydney Olympic in men's single sculls. Schomann-Finck didn't see Hacker's chances of winning a gold medal in Beijing.

"If he makes a good race, he can get a medal but not a gold one. We German team aim to win four or five medals. But for gold medals, it's hard to say.

"This year is very difficult for German rowers because teams like Australia, New Zealand, China are rising. Ten years ago, Germany is a big rowing country.

"I hope to make to the final but I know it's not easy. I think ten or eleven teams can go to the final. It's very close. When we are in the final, I think we can go for the podium or even a gold medal."

A total of 13 teams will take part in men's lightweight four in the Games.

As for China's chances in the event, Schomann-Finck said: "China is very strong. I hope they can win a medal and we hope for another medal."

Schomann-Finck was born in a rowing family and took up the sport in 1993. "My whole family just love the sport. My parents are rowing, My grandparents came together in rowing club. That's why I took up the sport. I was with my brother in the lightweight eight. My uncle was, in the 1990s, the champion in the lightweight single sculls in the national cup."

Apart from being a rower, Schomann-Finck is also a teacher.

"I teach rowing in school but this year we are often on tour, so actually I can not spend much time in school."

The German rowing team spent five weeks in Breisach, southwest of Germany for a camp training, and is scheduled to leave Beijing on Aug. 25, that is to say, after the final on Aug. 17, Schomann-Finck will have one week to stay in Beijing.

"I will tour in Beijing, but I don't have any plans for outside Beijing."

Schomann-Finck is still single, hoping to find a girlfriend. "I hope to meet a nice Chinese girl," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)