BOA Announce Team GB Rowers selected for Beijing 2008
26 Jun 2008
The British Olympic Association (BOA) today selected rowing members of Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The men’s pair will be selected at a later stage. Out of the nine names listed for the women’s eight, one will be chosen as the alternate (spare) in due course. The final number of rowers will be 43 (including the men’s pair and women’s eight) in 12 boats.
The athletes are:
MEN
Four
Tom James
Steve Williams
Peter Reed
Andy Triggs Hodge
Eight
Alex Partridge
Tom Stallard
Tom Lucy
Richard Egington
Josh West
Alastair Heathcote
Matt Langridge
Colin Smith
Acer Nethercott (cox)
Pair
To be selected at a later date
Single Scull
Alan Campbell
Double Scull
Matt Wells
Stephen Rowbotham
WOMEN
Eight and Alternate (spare) plus cox to be selected from:
Carla Ashford
Jess Eddie
Alice Freeman
Katie Greves
Natasha Howard
Alison Knowles
Natasha Page
Beth Rodford
Sarah Winckless
Caroline O'Connor (cox)
Pair
Louisa Reeve
Olivia Whitlam
Quad Scull
Annie Vernon
Debbie Flood
Frances Houghton
Katherine Grainger
Double scull
Elise Laverick
Anna Bebington
LIGHTWEIGHT
WOMEN
Double scull
Helen Casey
Hester Goodsell
MEN
Double scull
Zac Purchase
Mark Hunter
Four
Richard Chambers
James Lindsay-Fynn
Paul Mattick
James Clarke
Commenting on their selection:
Katherine Grainger, women's quadruple scull - Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 silver medallist said:
"It's going to be a tough event but we're going there with the aim of winning. Olympic gold is the only one missing from the set."
Anna Bebington, women's double scull, world cup winner this weekend said:
"With our world cup win we could not have asked for a better preparation before the Olympics. It has given us the perfect platform."
Steve Williams, Olympic Champion in 2004 said:
"Everything is very intense now. Each crew in our event is moving towards the top of its game. That's what they've been building up to for the last four years. I don't think the men's four has been this competitive since as far back as 1996."
Debbie Flood, women's quadruple scull silver medallist in Athens said:
"I am looking forward to the Olympics but it also comes with a lot of pressure. I have been training for 11 years of my life for that one six minute final and everything rests on that. There is only one aim and that is to win a gold medal."
Zac Purchase, lightweight men's double scull:
"Beijing is going to be an amazing event - a real eye opener about world sport. Being my first Olympics, I have to make sure that I don't get too distracted by all the new sights and sounds. I'm looking forward to it immensely. I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure to perform, but that is just going to make it more exciting."
Simon Clegg, Team GB 2008 Chef de Mission, said:
“I am delighted that the BOA will take 43 rowers in 12 boats to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - the largest Team GB contingent since 1992 and reflective of the nation's recent increased strength in depth in this traditionally strong sport for us at the Olympic Games.
I am sure the athletes – a mix of first time athletes and experienced rowers - will be looking to continue their recent World Cup medal winning performances out in Beijing. I wish them all the best in their final preparations and in competition at the Olympic Games.”
David Tanner, Team GB’s Rowing Team Leader, said:
"The Olympic Games bring out the best in every athlete whatever the sport. Everyone will be trying to peak at the right time on the right day, including the Chinese hosts who have emerged in the last four years to be a formidable force in our sport. We go to Beijing confident but aware of the size of the task ahead."
Notes to Editors
Amongst Team GB's potential medal contenders will be the reigning world champions in the women's quadruple scull as well as the men's four who were world champions in 2005 and 2006.
Team GB also has chances to succeed through the crews who have won world cup gold this year - the men's single, double, eight and lightweight double, the women's double - and its 2007 world champion lightweight men's four.
The rowing squad won seven Olympic class medals at last year's World Championships but has had an injury-disrupted build-up to the Games this season.
Steve Williams (gold), Frances Houghton, Debbie Flood, Katherine Grainger (silver), Sarah Winckless and Elise Laverick (bronze) are the returning Athens 2004 medallists in the squad.
The youngest athlete is Tom Lucy, aged 20, and Sarah Winckless is the oldest, aged 34.
Team GB is expected to consist of approximately 300 athletes and a further 200 officials. Click here for profiles of every athlete selected for Team GB so far.
Team GB could be competing in up to 21 sports. Click here to view sport specific information.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will take place from 8th to 24th August 2008. Click here for further information about the Games.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its role is to prepare our nation’s finest athletes for and lead them at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. The BOA delivers extensive elite level support services to Britain’s Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle and in the UK is responsible for the development and protection of the Olympic Movement.
For more information please contact Miriam Wilkens in the BOA Communications Department on 07768775762 or 020 8871 2677 ext 227.
All interview requests for the athletes should go through Caroline Searle at Matchtight Ltd. on 01225 443998 or 07831 755351.