Single focus for ambitious Manson
Robbie Manson says he wants to be New Zealand’s men’s single scull representative at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Manson, currently contesting the Rowing New Zealand elite trials at Lake Karapiro, said he’s ready for all the challenges that quest may throw at him - including competition from Mahe Drysdale and Hamish Bond.
The 27-year-old appears certain to be given the nod at the end of the week as the Kiwi men’s single sculler for two World Cup events in Europe this winter - and then for the world championships in the United States at the end of September.
But he’s aware two-time defending Olympic champion Drysdale may opt to return next season after a break and chase a third consecutive gold in Tokyo, while Bond - also having a season off rowing and turning his focus to cycling as a possible Olympic pursuit - could yet opt to seek the single scull seat.
‘‘That’d be an exciting challenge and whoever did get the single in the end, it’d make them a lot faster,’’ Manson said of possibilities in the future.
‘‘I want to try and establish myself this year to be in a strong position next year. I want to be selected in the single and that’s been my goal all summer.
‘‘At the beginning of the summer I basically said to Rowing New Zealand that I wanted to do the single this year. I’ve made sure I’ve performed at the regattas over the summer to put myself in the best position to do that.’’
Manson has been the standout in the class at domestic level over summer and claimed the national title recently at Lake Ruataniwha. He said his efforts this season have been part of a long-term plan after he and crewmate Chris Harris surprisingly failed to make the A final in the double sculls at last year’s Rio Olympics.
‘‘I’m not wanting to do the single just to fill Mahe’s seat while he’s gone - I want to be competitive and ideally that’s the boat I’d like to be in in Tokyo.
‘‘But obviously I haven’t raced the single before internationally and a lot can happen in three or four years.’’
Manson said failure in Rio initially left him unsure of his rowing future.
‘‘But then I thought if I’m going to do it, I’ve got to be excited about it - I think the single has provided that challenge.
‘‘It was really disappointing, having things go wrong in Rio because we had such a strong season up until then. Even the training block up until Rio, we didn’t put a foot wrong until we got there and everything kind of unravelled.
‘‘The conditions were really difficult and Chris had problems with his forearms in gripping the oars - he’s just had surgery this summer so hopefully that fixes that problem.’’
Manson and Harris teamed up again at the national champs to win the double sculls crown.
‘‘That went really well - especially considering we’d only rowed in it together four times since Rio, and it went as good as it’s ever gone.
‘‘In the back of my mind I also think that that could be a gold medal-winning combination, especially with the Sinkovic brothers [the 2016 Olympic gold medallists] going into the pair.
‘‘If the single doesn’t live up to my own expectations I could always go for the double, because I want to be in the boat that has the best chance of winning in Tokyo.’’