Ransley to learn Olympic fate

Tom Ransley hopes today is the day when four years of hard work are worthwhile and he is confirmed as a double Olympian.

British Rowing will name the athletes chosen to represent Teamgb at the Rio Olympic Games in a ceremony at Henleyon-thames this afternoon (Thursday).

Ransley, the 30-year-old former King’s School Canterbury pupil, from Ashford, hopes to be confirmed in his second Olympic squad having had to settle for bronze in the men’s eight at Eton Dorney four years ago.

He said: “I suppose it is a big few days but my focus this week is on training. We have Poznan coming up and a job to do.”

On Monday, Ransley was confirmed in the eight for the final event before the Olympics, the third and final World Cup event of the season in Poznan, Poland, from June 17-19.

After a six-week training block, the heats of the men’s eight in Rio will take place on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, just a mile from Copacabana Beach on Monday, August 8, with the medals decided on Saturday, August 13, and Ransley is hoping to be there.

He admitted: “You try not to think too much about the overall picture on a day-to-day basis. We come in each day with a job to do and that’s all we can focus on.

“When you take a moment to think about it I suppose the announcement is a big deal and, if you get the news you are hoping for, something to enjoy and celebrate because it is the culmination of four years of hard work.

“It’s part of an overall journey, the selection is not the end, it’s just a step on the way to the ultimate goal which is competing for a medal at the Olympics.”

The GB eight were without the experienced Pete Reed as they finished fourth in the last World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, last month, though he returns for Poznan in a crew that includes Andrew Triggs Hodge, gold medallist in the four at London 2012 in the stroke seat.

Ransley is joined by teammates Matt Gotrel, Scott Durant, Matt Langridge, Will Satch, Paul Bennett, Reed and Triggs Hodge and cox Phelan Hill,

Ransley claimed bronze in the new-look eight at the European Championships in Brandenburg last month, with the hosts claiming gold and Russia silver,although he was been included in a reshuffled men’s four in the past 12 months.

‘It is a big few days but my focus this week is on training’

Picture: Naomi Baker Sport Photography GB rowing star Tom Ransley will find out today (Thursday) if he has made the Olympic rowing squad