Aussies Stroke Medal Hopes
Illawarra Mercury
Monday March 13, 2000
National head coach Brian Richardson yesterday predicted the Australian rowing team could better its Atlanta medal tally, making the Sydney Olympics its most successful.
Australian rowers won six medals, including two gold, in Atlanta and this week's national championships at the Olympic rowing venue at Penrith indicated that could be topped in September.
``I'm a bit superstitious about medal counts but if we can perform up to scratch and improve in this medal year, we're on track to match that amount or maybe better it," Richardson said.
Ten rowers were officially nominated to the Australian team yesterday including women's pair Kate Slatter (SA) and Rachel Taylor (Vic), women's lightweight double scull Virginia Lee (NSW) and Sally Newmarch (SA), men's lightweight double scull Bruce Hick (ACT) and Haimish Karrasch (Qld), and men's lightweight four Anthony Edwards (Vic), Darren Balmforth (Tas), Simon Burgess (Tas) and Robert Richards (Vic).
Those crews won medals at last year's world championships in Canada and only had to win their classes here to fulfil selection requirements.
Richardson said there were a number of performances this week that would have won medals on the world stage.
``I think we saw some world class times by a number of crews and that's very pleasing at this time of the year, to see to the top end of the team producing world-class performances," he said.
``The time put up by the (men's coxless) four yesterday and (men's) pair, they're world class times, as fast as anybody would be going at this time of the year so we're looking very strong."
He said he was particularly impressed that these showings came under trying conditions, which saw racing delayed twice because of strong winds.
``The delays are very hard to handle but there's a fair chance at some stage during the Olympics there will be delays so it doesn't hurt you to get practice at going through them."
The next selection regatta will be held at Penrith on April 13-16 where the team make-up should become clearer, depending on Victorian rower Drew Ginn's back injury.
Ginn and James Tomkins form part of the dual gold medal-winning Oarsome Foursome and are also world champions in the men's pair, but didn't compete in those events this week with Ginn undergoing minor surgery.
Richardson said Ginn would be given every chance to prove his fitness before the men's pair and men's coxless four berths for Sydney were decided.
© 2000 Illawarra Mercury
Share This