Drysdale to row in quad at world champs
Mahe´ Drysdale will race in the men’s quad at the World Rowing Championships next month.
The 39-year-old had missed out on selection in the single scull, with Robbie Manson the faster rower during the World Cup season earlier this year.
But after that disappointment, the two-time Olympic champion set his sights on still making it to the year’s pinnacle event in Bulgaria, and has done so, joining Lewis Hollows, Cameron Crampton and Nathan Flannery in the quad.
Jordan Parry was the fourth member of the quad at the last World Cup, where they won the B Final, but has lost his spot to Drysdale, after trials at Lake Karapiro.
While Drysdale will race in the quad at the world championships in Bulgaria, which run from September 9 to 16, he has his sights set to returning to the single scull and competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Drysdale didn’t compete last year, after winning gold at the Rio Olympics a year earlier, his second single sculls success at that level, following his win in London in 2012.
When he returned to action this year, Rowing NZ decided it would allow both him and Manson to compete during the World Cup season, with the superior rower in the third of three events taking the one place on offer at the world championships.
Manson won the single sculls event at World Cup II in Austria in June, where Drysdale was forced to withdraw due to illness, then triumphed again in Switzerland last month, where Drysdale finished fourth.
Elsewhere, the only changes to the New Zealand squad from the World Cup campaign come in the men’s eight, with a shoulder injury forcing Anthony Allen out, and Joe Wright moving to the men’s reserve pair. James Lassche and Martyn O’Leary have taken their place.
A new crew of Thomas Russel, Tom Mackintosh, Matt MacDonald and Angus McFarlane will contest the men’s four.
Rowing NZ High Performance Director Alan Cotter said it was good to have the squad named.
‘‘We saw an impressive performance from New Zealand during this year’s World Rowing Cup II and III, and we’re confident we’re presenting an even stronger front for the World Championships.
‘‘Despite training throughout New Zealand’s winter, we topped the medal table in Europe at World Rowing Cup III and our team have proven themselves as a very competition threat for all rowing nations.’’