The twin monarchs of New Zealand rowing are both breathing confidence ahead of the long-awaited start to Olympic competition here on Saturday.
Mahe Drysdale and Rob Waddell were front and centre at a rowing team press conference today and a torrent of questions were directed their way, with both regarded as among New Zealand's premier Games medal candidates.
There will be eight New Zealand crews in action and most are strong contenders to reach finals but few boast the credentials and genuine gold medal potential of single sculler Drysdale and 2000 Olympic singles champion Waddell, who rows with Nathan Cohen in the double.
Drysdale famously beat Waddell into the singles seat in a race-off this year but there was no apparent hard feelings as the two lanky scullers sat side-by-side at the media top table.
Three-time world champion Drysdale believed he had timed his Beijing buildup perfectly, having completed a training session yesterday which he described as his best for several months.
He was confident enough to predict a smooth path through the to final on August 16 and hoped his upward curve would continue through this Saturday's heats.
"I'm making myself as good as I can be for that final. If I have my best race then, I'll be hard to beat," Drysdale said.
"The way I'm rowing is where I want to be. I'm happy with how the boat's moving, it's just a feeling thing that you get sometimes."
Waddell showed no hard feelings about his enforced switch to the double.
He had blended easily with Cohen and was pleasantly surprised by their World Cup wins at Lucerne and Poznan this year.
"I don't think I've enjoyed sculling as much as I have this year, it's been a lot of fun," Waddell said.
"Part of the reason is having someone to train with, someone has to push you along.
"I've enjoyed getting to know Nathan. I haven't had a lot to do with him before the summer of rowing and he's only impressed as we've gone through the season.
"His athleticism is a great attribute ... but probably what stands out the most to me is his attitude. It's first class in every way.
"It's around this time when you're coming to race that you appreciate that when you've got it in your partner."
Waddell said the team concept was not a new one to him, having spent so long in the Team New Zealand yachting syndicate.
However, the single-minded drive that carried him to glory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics remains, something that he hopes will transfer to Cohen.
"I draw huge confidence from what I've done in the past. Mentally I've never let myself down," Waddell said.
"We're coming up against some really tough crews, it's going to be a huge challenge, very cut-throat. We're ready for that."
Waddell had found the Rowing New Zealand high performance system an inspiring one to rejoin after more than seven years out of rowing.
The world class standard of crews that number multiple world champions past and present created a culture of excellence.
That had rubbed off on two younger members of the team, women's singles sculler Emma Twigg, who will be the first New Zealander in action on Saturday, and lightweight double sculler Storm Uru.
"We're lucky to have such experience and such a wealth of knowledge within the team," Uru said, pointing to Drysdale and Waddell.
"These guys have stressed the importance of seeing it as another race, not seeing it as the big Olympics. It's about going out and doing your best over 2km so in that regard."
Twigg had enjoyed experiencing the New Zealand team atmosphere in the Olympic village and seeing athletes from other countries but was looking forward to the rowers' shift to their hotel next to the Shunyi venue on Thursday.
