KEY POINTS:
Mahe Drysdale has offered his sympathises to Rob Waddell, after a health issue struck down the two-time world champion early in today's sudden death Olympic trial.
Drysdale took the race by 25 seconds after Waddell's well-documented heart problem flared up at the 300m mark, all but gifting NZ's single sculls Olympic rowing birth to current world champion Drysdale.
"I knew there was something amiss, he's too good to let you do that," Drysdale said.
"It's a shame it happened. He's an awesome competitor and what he's done this summer has been absolutely amazing.
"I knew he was always going to be good but he surprised me how well he came back," Drysdale, 29, said.
"I've never had that racing in the last three years where you've just battled it out the whole way down the course."
Drysdale maintained he was not taking his selection for granted but it is inconceivable he will not be granted the opportunity to emulate Waddell's Olympic achievement in China in August.
"There's still water to go under the bridge. If I hear my name on Friday I'll be very happy," he said.
His coach Calvin Ferguson was more forthright as the national rowing selectors Conrad Robertson, Dick Tonks and Athol Earl pondered their options.
"How can they say no to that?" Ferguson asked.
"That's wasn't close, that was a distance."
The magnitude of Drysdale's victory took about 500 onlookers by surprise given the closeness of their previous battles throughout this season.
But once a crestfallen Waddell returned to the lakeside, the reason for his underwhelming performance was soon apparent.
Waddell was diagnosed with atrium fibrillation in 1997, a heart condition which can lead to energy loss, pain and a rapid heartbeat during training and racing.
The disorder, which can lead to a heart attack, nearly forced Waddell into early retirement but he won an Olympic gold medal in Sydney eight years ago after the correct treatment was identified.
"It happened about 300 metres in," Waddell, 33, said.
"You think is it happening, is it not happening? There's always a sort of moment of confusion, I tried to settle the rating down a bit but unfortunately it just persisted.
"The simple feeling is you're like rowing in mud.
"There's nothing you can do about it - it's just the way it is."
Waddell, who levelled the three-race series at 1-1 with a comfortable two-boat length win in the second race on Monday, said his heartbeat accelerated from normal levels to "in excess of 200 beats per minute".
It naturally affected his rhythm and confidence.
"I'm incredibly disappointed. It's a bad way to finish. It was nothing near my best, what I did in that race, and it's cruel it had to happen in that race."
His heart rate had still not returned to its usual level while he was explaining a dramatic failure that compromises his future in the sport just five months out from Beijing.
Waddell indicated before his battle with Drysdale that he would consider trialling for another crew if he was unsuccessful.
However, the re-emergence of his heart condition had now prompted a rethink.
He might consider an operation and return to medication that successfully alleviated symptoms in the past.
- NZPA
