Drysdale aiming to peak in time for Olympic gold defence
AUCKLAND: The last time double Olympic rowing champion Mahe Drysdale competed at a pinnacle event in the single scull was his gold winning effort at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Despite that, the 41yearold is confident he can make up ground in time for the Tokyo Games this year after reclaiming the single sculls spot in the national squad.
Drysdale is all but assured of chasing a hat trick of gold medals in Tokyo after being named in the team this week.
Robbie Manson took over the single sculls spot in 2017 after Drysdale took a year off following the Rio Olympics.
However, Manson has struggled on the international scene in recent times and has moved into the double.
Drysdale will contest two World Cup regattas in Italy and Switzerland in May.
‘‘Obviously with Robbie going into the double that sort of opened a pathway, so very happy that that’s the way that it has evolved, because I do feel like it gives me my best shot at performing to the best of my ability in Tokyo as long as I can obviously tick off these World Cups and perform like I know I can.
‘‘I haven’t had a pinnacle event in the single since 2016, so there’s still a little bit of unknown as to where I can get to, but everything right now points that I’m well on track and where I need to be.’’
Instead of holding a set trial event, the Rowing New Zealand selection panel have tracked athletes over the summer season.
Drysdale said it meant he could put all his focus into the Olympics rather than having to also peak for a trial.
‘‘It certainly is a much better way forward, rather than coming up to a sort of a big peak to win your selection and then you know having to go back down and build up again for Rio, so I think it is going to give everyone an opportunity now to focus on being the best they can.’’
He said the new selection policy did require a lot of trust in the selectors and not everyone would be in favour.
‘‘When we were all sat down and told about it, it certainly opened up some questions. We won’t know whether it works properly probably until Tokyo.’’
Drysdale said knowing where he stood in the squad had bought him more time.
‘‘When I got back in the single I had 10 months to put it all together and that’s not a lot of time. Not having to come up for an early peak buys me another six or seven weeks to focus on that base work.
‘‘By the World Cups I’d like to be showing some pretty good speed that I’m right up with the best in the world.’’ — RNZ