Top Team Ready To Make A Splash In Beijing - Rowing
The Age
Monday July 28, 2008
Our Australian heroes are going for gold as the greatest show on Earth is poised to begin.
TWO reigning world champion crews will head up Australia's gold-medal-winning prospects in rowing - the men's coxless pairs and the women's lightweight double sculls.For the first time, Australia will be represented in all 14 events, with each of them credentialled to make their finals and many to return with a gold, silver or bronze medal.The coxless pair of Drew Ginn and Duncan Free and lightweight double scull of Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston go with must-win pressure to win gold.Ginn and Free have won gold medals at the past two world titles, while Halliday and Houston won world-title silver at Eton two years ago and then gold in Munich last year.But, they are not the only medal prospects, nor the only stories to watch for. No matter how the men's coxed eight fares, the performance of its 42-yearold triple Olympic gold-medalwinning James Tomkins, who will turn 43 during the Games, will be in the spotlight.So, too, will the women's coxed eight, which is another of Australia's gold-medal contenders after one win and a second place in two World Cup regattas.A gold-medal dark horse could be the men's coxless four of Francis Hegerty, Matthew Ryan, Cameron McKenzie- McHarg and James Marburg .Look out for Pippa Savage in the women's single scull. She earned her berth by convincing selectors the boat should not be given to the reserve, but to someone who can medal. -- RUPERT GUINNESS
© 2008 The Age