FREE EARNS A BELATED NATIONAL CALL-UP
JACKSON Free has bounced back from missing selection for the World Rowing Junior Championships by scoring a national call-up of his own.
Free, the nephew of Olympic gold medallist Duncan, was an unlucky omission from the Australian under-21 squad but has since earned a chance to represent his country at the World University Rowing Championships in Shanghai on August 10-12.
There he will work with university team head coach Nick Garrett, who mentored Duncan at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Jackson, 19, is usually coached by his father Marcus – himself a two-time World Cup medallist – but he will be unable to attend the regatta due to commitments with the world championships set-up.
“It’s disappointing that Dad won’t be able to attend but it’s great to have my first international regatta under the guidance of Nick,” said Jackson, an architecture student at Griffith University.
“Nick and my late grandfather Reg (also an Australian rep) were great mates and I know Pop would be looking down with a big smile.
“I’m looking forward to training over the next 10 weeks and understand it will be hard but I am looking forward to pushing myself to reach the standard required to be competitive at this level.”