The New Zealand Olympic Committee has confirmed Rob Waddell and Nathan Cohen will represent New Zealand in the Men’s Double Sculls at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Rowing New Zealand made its nomination to the New Zealand Olympic Committee today after nearly two weeks of deliberation. The New Zealand Olympic selectors are satisfied that Rowing New Zealand’s nomination process was robust, transparent and fair.
“This is an exciting new team,” said Olympic selector and NZOC Secretary General, Barry Maister. “We are confident that Rowing New Zealand have put forward the right names and we have every confidence that this crew has real medal potential.
“The Olympic rowing qualification trials have been incredibly inspiring and demonstrate the huge depth of talent that exists within New Zealand rowing.”
Following medical consultation, the atrial fibrillation which ended Waddell’s challenge for the single sculls spot is no longer considered a significant issue by either the New Zealand Olympic Committee or Rowing New Zealand.
Rob Waddell was the Sydney 2000 Olympic Single Scull champion. New Zealand Olympic selectors have named in the men’s double scull with young charger Nathan Cohen – himself a world class single sculler and Under 23 medallist.
The double scull qualified for the Olympics by making the 2007 world final with Cohen and Matthew Trott on board. Trott is a talented champion sweep oarsman as well as crew sculler and is included as the men’s squad spare man.
This announcement brings the New Zealand Olympic Rowing Team to a total of eleven men and five women.
New Zealand has recorded a total of 12 Olympic rowing medals including five gold medals in the Double Sculls Women - Athens 2004; Single Sculls Men - Sydney 2000; Coxless Four - Los Angeles 1984; Men’s Eight - Munich 1972; and the Coxed Four - Mexico City 1968.
Beijing 2008 will be the sixteenth Olympic Games at which a New Zealand rowing team has competed. The first was 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium when Darcy Hadfield took a bronze in the single sculls event. |