Drysdale might need bigger boat in Bulgaria
Mahe Drysdale may yet contest this year’s rowing world championships.
Despite missing out on the men’s single scull berth in the New Zealand team to the better-performed Robbie Manson, the two-time Olympic gold medallist could be part of a crew boat at the 2018 world championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in September.
Rowing NZ has named eight boats for the regatta with further entries likely when the team is finalised on August 10.
Drysdale has been included in a group of rowers to continue training at Lake Karapiro, with the possibility he could be selected in a quad or possibly even the sweep oar eight. The young New Zealand men’s quad of Nathan Flannery, Jordan Parry, Cameron Crampton and Lewis Hollows was seventh at the final World Cup regatta of the season in Switzerland earlier this month, while the eight was fifth.
Drysdale has indicated he would be willing to be part of a crew boat for this year’s world champs while still aiming to be New Zealand’s men’s single scull representative at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 39-year-old has won gold at the past two Olympics in the class after claiming bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Manson claimed the single scull spot by winning both World Cup events he contested, with Drysdale withdrawing from the first because of illness and then finishing fourth in Lucerne.
Manson is joined in the confirmed team to date by the women’s double sculls crew of Olivia Loe and Brooke, women’s pair Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast, lightweight women’s double scullers Jackie Kiddle and Zoe Mcbride, women’s eight (Kelsey Bevan, Kelsi Walters, Emma Dyke, Beth Ross, Jackie Gowler, Lucy Spoors, Kelsi Parker, Ella Greenslade, coxswain Sam Bosworth), men’s double scullers Chris Harris and John Storey, men’s pair Michael Brake and Tom Murray and the lightweight men’s double sculls crew of Matthew Dunham and Ben van Dalen.
Rowing NZ selectors will also take into account the performance of their team at the under-23 world championships in Poznan, Poland, later this month before choosing the final team for the world championships.