Rowing champion grinds his way into the America’s Cup
Until a week ago, Team New Zealand grinder Joe Sullivan had never been in a yacht race.
By the end of the month the Olympic rowing champion will be in sailing’s most prestigious event.
But that lack of racing experience does not concern Sullivan. As one of four “cyclors” on board Team NZ’s 50- ft catamaran, his job, he says, is about providing the power for the team, pushing through the pain barrier to push the pedals as fast as he can, for as long as he can. And when it comes to pushing himself to his physical limits, you can bet Sullivan knows what he’s in for.
“I feel like when the pressure is on and it’s all on the line, that’s where I can lift another level. Stay focused and calm when everything hurts like hell,” said Sullivan, who along with Nathan Cohen won gold in the double sculls at the 2012 Olympics in a storming finish after being fourth at the mid- way point in the race.
With Team NZ spending much of their campaign in Auckland with only their chase boat to spar against, the Kiwi crew got their first taste of proper match racing in Bermuda last weekend. The team were able to prepare their boat just in time to hit the water for the final day of the official practice racing window. They lined up in three races, winning two.
It was Sullivan’s first time experiencing the pressure of powering the catamarans in race conditions and he said there was a step- up in intensity.
“It was definitely a bit more intense, everyone is really switched on and really locked into what we’re doing. We didn’t have the best of races, but we learnt a lot, which was really good and just to get out there and really cement that understanding of what you need to do and what the boat needs was really good,” he said.
Sullivan isn’t the only sailing novice aboard Team NZ. Former sprint cyclist Simon van Velthooven, who like Sullivan was one of New Zealand’s medal winners at the London Games, is another cross- code recruit. With the Kiwi team installing a cyclegrinding system rather than the traditional handle- driven pedestals, van Velthooven was targeted for his cycling expertise.
“They’ve been in a lot of races in their time — just not so many yacht races,” jokes Peter Burling.
Sullivan can find plenty of similarities between rowing and grinding.
“It’s definitely very similar [ to the intensity of a rowing final], but it’s a bit more on- off. So there are patches where the boat demands a lot of power and you have to give as much as you have and then there are times where you can take it a bit easier, whereas with rowing it is consistently killing you,” he said.
“When you’re giving it a full effort it’s very much the same as rowing.”
For Sullivan the big difference is what goes on off the water.
Whereas the Olympic Games is as much about upholding the Olympic ideals of sportsmanship as it is the physical endeavour, the America’s Cup is underpinned by grudges and simmering resentment between key players.
Sullivan admits the off- water niggle has been a bit of a shock to the system.
“Being in the build- up I’ve definitely learned what it’s all about and it’s definitely a different ballpark. In the Olympics everyone sticks to themselves and tries to get the best out of themselves, whereas with the America’s Cup everyone is looking for that little slight tactical advantage over each other and they’ll try and do anything to make it happen. In some ways it’s quite fun, it adds to it all.” The Crusaders, without two of their best forwards, tomorrow face perhaps their biggest test of the season in the form of the Bulls in Pretoria, where they have lost their last five matches. While they are likely to be favourites to overturn that record and stretch their unbeaten streak to 10, there is no doubt that the loss of Sam Whitelock ( through suspension) could hurt them. To compound matters, No 8 Kieran Read’s thumb injury robs them of ball carrying ability and also leadership, with 20- year- old lock Quinten Strange called over from New Zealand and set to play only his second Super Rugby match. Flanker Matt Todd will captain the Crusaders, with midfielder Ryan Crotty by far the most experienced figure on the bench, an area of strength previously for the Crusaders. The Australian Jillaroos have avenged last year’s test loss to the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns with a gritty 16- 4 win in Canberra. The Jillaroos continued their dominance of the Ferns from the Auckland Nines whitewash earlier in the year and turned the tables on last year’s 26- 16 loss by winning a bruising curtainraiser to last night’s Anzac test. The Kiwi Ferns were out- scored three tries to one, with Atawhai Tupaea crashing over in the 25th minute for New Zealand’s only try after Australia had opened the scoring. New Zealand and Australia lock horns tonight in an Oceania Under- 20s rugby series showdown on the Gold Coast. New Zealand have been largely impressive in casting aside Fiji ( 63- 3) and Samoa ( 80- 23) thus far but will be seeking a consistent allround performance in their last major hitout before the World Rugby under- 20 Championship in Georgia later this month. They have made 11 changes to the starting XV from the Samoa game on Tuesday, with captain Luke Jacobson lining up for his third game in eight days, while Josh McKay, shifting from fullback to wing, lock Sam Caird and hooker Asafo Aumua retain their spots. The Black Sticks Men were edged 3- 2 by Great Britain in their final round robin match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia last night. It was an evenly poised encounter for much of the match before Great Britain got the better of the Kiwis in the second half. The result sets up New Zealand for the bronze medal match against either Great Britain or India, with results later in the day deciding the match- up. Head coach Darren Smith said the difference was Great Britain’s finishing in the attacking circle. “We weren’t as clinical as we needed to be in the midfield and attacking third and that really let us down,” Smith said. The top two sides have picked up impressive wins in the National Basketball League. The Wellington Saints have moved to 11- 0 after 37 points from Corey Webster led them to a 98- 87 victory over the Supercity Rangers. They hold a clear advantage over the second- placed Southland Sharks, who dominated the rebounding battle against the Canterbury Rams, winning 105- 94 to move to 7- 3. The Rangers ( 5- 5) and Rams ( 5- 6) remain in the top four and are likely to make the playoffs. Auckland’s 1A First XV competition kicks off today with several schools again in contention for a coveted semifinal berth. Saint Kentigern College, who last season missed their first 1A final since 2010, have rebuilt and look in sharp pre- season form, 2016 finalists Sacred Heart and MAGS will again be knocking at the door, though the latter might not be as formidable as the class of 2016, while a clutch of First XVs, including King’s, De La Salle, 2016 semifinalists St Peter’s, Auckland Grammar, Kelston BHS, Aorere and Dilworth will all feel they have legitimate claims of pushing for the top four. Usain Bolt is confident of two things — he won't make a comeback and he's not going to grow a belly once he exits athletics in August. The eight- time Olympic champion will retire following the World Athletic Championships in London later this year. Bolt has 11 world championship gold medals, completing the 100m, 200m and 100m relay treble at three world championships. “I have a bet with my managers, they give me two years before I get a belly so I can't let that happen,” Bolt told the BBC. A blistering first- half performance has lifted the Junior Kangaroos to a convincing 46- 22 win over the Junior Kiwis at Canberra's GIO Stadium last night to make it three- straight victories in the mid- year league test. The Aussies raced out to a 30- 0 lead at the break and looked set to go on with the job courtesy of back- to- back tries to start the second stanza, but New Zealand showed spirit to ensure they avoided a record defeat. The 2017 Women’s World Cup will see a 10 times increase in prize money to US$ 2 million with every ball of the tournament broadcast live, the ICC has said. The 2013 Women’s World Cup in India, when Australia won its sixth title by defeating West Indies in the final, had just US$ 200,000 in prize money. The ICC said 10 matches of the June 24- July 23 tournament in England would be live on television, while the remaining 21 matches will be live- streamed.