No crewmate so no Games for Kiddle

Jackie Kiddle’s quest for rowing gold at the Tokyo Olympics is over.

Kiddle was set to star at the Games, starting on July 23, in the New Zealand lightweight women’s double sculls.

But her crewmate Zoe McBride retired last month and Kiddle and Rowing New Zealand have been unable to find a replacement in the boat who would keep it as an Olympic medal-winning prospect.

The lightweight double sculls is the only category left for lightweight rowers at the Olympics – the men’s lightweight four class was scrapped following the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Rowing NZ attempted to replace McBride with former New Zealand representative Lucy Strack, who left the sport in 2014 but has been competing in Ironman events in recent years. But Rowing NZ coach James Coote told 1 News they weren’t able to get an Olympicquality combination in time.

‘‘We tried with a number of athletes and different combinations and people . . . and with any of the options, there just wasn’t the runway to be able to do it.’’

Kiddle told 1 News she backed McBride’s move despite the unfortunate outcome.

‘‘I’m not happy to row with anyone who is going to be unhealthy, and I fully support her decision to retire.’’

Kiddle and McBride won gold in the class at the 2019 world championships, were sixth in 2018 and silver medallists the previous year.

Kiddle posted on her Instagram account after McBride’s surprise retirement that it wouldn’t end her rowing career, with the 2024 Paris Olympics a new goal, and will likely contest the world championships in Shanghai in October in the lightweight single.

McBride said she couldn’t represent New Zealand on the world stage if she couldn’t be representing her true self, with the 25-year-old’s battle with weight, injuries and mental health ensured she eventually had an easy decision.