Rowing: Pinsent's four remain in contention after Lucerne
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ten rowing crews have been added to Team GB's roster for the Olympic Games in Athens, including the men's four containing Matthew Pinsent, going for his fourth Olympic gold, and the women's quadruple scullers, who won their event at the final round of the World Cup last weekend. One further crew, the men's quadruple sculls, is yet to be announced.
Ten rowing crews have been added to Team GB's roster for the Olympic Games in Athens, including the men's four containing Matthew Pinsent, going for his fourth Olympic gold, and the women's quadruple scullers, who won their event at the final round of the World Cup last weekend. One further crew, the men's quadruple sculls, is yet to be announced.
The aim of the rowing team is to win three medals in Athens, at least one of them gold. The most likely providers are Alison Mowbray, Rebecca Romero, Frances Houghton and Debbie Flood in the quadruple scull, whose performance in winning the World Cup in a violent hail storm on Lucerne's Rotsee course was inspirational. The women's pair, Katherine Grainger and Cath Bishop, are also confident of a medal, having won the world title last year.
There is a greater spread among the men's team. Thirty-three-year-old Pinsent's four, with James Cracknell from the Sydney 2000 golden crew plus Steve Williams and Alex Partridge, are certainly gold contenders despite their third place at Lucerne. After a run of minor setbacks, last weekend's regatta was the first they had completed in their full line-up. They compete at Henley next weekend and leave for 18 days at altitude in Austria followed by 10 days at sea level on a French lake before Athens.
The pair of Rick Dunn and Toby Garbett have high hopes of coming out on the right side of the six or seven crews in the medal zone of their event - including the Australians James Tomkins and Drew Ginn, who undermined Cracknell and Pinsent's career in the pair by winning last year's World Championships. Garbett and Dunn will race in the Goblets at Henley next week.
The eight has one change since they won world bronze last year, and are concentrating on rebuilding confidence after a disappointing year before defending Britain's other Sydney rowing gold medal.
Team GB Olymic rowing team: Men: Single Scull: Ian Lawson. Double Scull: Matthew Langridge, Matthew Wells. Coxless Pair: Toby Garbett, Rick Dunn. Coxless Four: James Cracknell, Steve Williams, Alex Partridge, Matthew Pinsent. Eight: Robin Bourne-Taylor, Dan Ouseley, Jonno Devlin, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Josh West, Phil Simmons, Ed Coode, Tom James, cox: Christian Cormack. Lightweight Four: Mike Hennessy, Tim Male, Nick English, Mark Hunter. Quadruple Scull: TBA. Women: Double Scull: Sarah Winckless, Elise Laverick. Quadruple Scull: Alison Mowbray, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton, Rebecca Romero. Coxless Pair: Katherine Grainger, Cath Bishop. Lightweight Double Scull: Helen Casey, Tracy Langlands.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments