New Zealand are virtually assured of at least one Olympic
gold after news the British men's pair have conceded defeat
to rowers Hamish Bond and Eric Murray and moved into a
different boat for the Olympics.
Bond and Murray were already the hottest of favourites
considering they are undefeated since teaming up in 2009.
Their run has included 14 consecutive defeats of their
closest rivals Andy Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed. Many of
those wins have been by close margins but Triggs-Hodge and
Reed have had the white flag raised for them and been moved
into the men's coxless four at London.
Great Britain rowing men's coach Jurgen Grobler considers
Triggs-Hodge and Reed his two top oarsmen and has made it
clear that consolidating a genuine gold-medal opportunity
takes priority over an outside chance in the pair.
The four is traditionally Britain's flagship Olympic boat,
although they will come under pressure from the Australian
crew, dubbed the Oarsome Foursome. Between them, Britain
(2000, 2004 and 2008) and Australia (1992, 1996) have won the
last five gold medals in the event.
"We have to defend what we have won,'' Grobler said.
Reed made it clear in a recent interview he didn't mind what
boat he was in as long as he was in with a genuine chance of
winning gold.
"Jurgen's decision will be life-changing for some people,''
Reed told Olympic-news2012.com. "We have all got our dream of
Olympic gold. I have faith in Jurgen's selection so I don't
have a favourite boat, be it the pair, four or eight. I just
want to be in the top boat and have the best chance of a gold
medal.
"I am very confident in my own abilities, confident of what I
have done in the past and where I am now. I think I have a
brilliant shot of being in the top boat and when that is
formed I think I have a brilliant shot of a gold medal.''
Bond and Murray, who are racing with different partners at
this week's national rowing championships at Lake Karapiro,
have won the last three world championships. Bond and Murray
were members of the men's coxless four which won the B final
at Beijing and Murray was fifth in the same boat at Athens
four years previously.
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