Rowing: Drysdale relishing Rio shot

Mahe Drysdale. Photo / Christine Cornege

The tinge of excitement remains intact for Mahe Drysdale as he ponders a fourth Olympic Games in Rio next year.

The Games start on August 5 in the Brazilian city and a year out the defending single sculls champion, an old hand at this game, is relishing what lies ahead.

But his situation has changed from the leadup to his first Games, in Athens in 2004.

A year out from that event, no boats had qualified and just who would get a trip was still an open book. Ten people going for six spots - a four and a pair - became eight.

"It was a strange time and I remember that summer being very tough," he said today.

"Basically every day you were racing for your seat and I remember them being the toughest trials I'd ever been in. We knew two were going to miss out. It was pretty hard and I remember being named in the team and the real relief."

Drysdale was in the four, along with Eric Murray, Carl Meyer and Don Leach, who finished fifth; Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater were fourth in the pair final.

So when young athletes with their eyes on a first trip to the Olympics sound Drysdale out, he has a message for them.

"Keep your eyes on the prize and what you can control," Drysdale, a bronze medal winner in 2008 and multiple world champion, said.

"Obviously you've got a goal you want to achieve in Rio, but a year is a long time and lot can be achieved.

"Have Rio in the back of the mind, but make sure every single day you're doing something to move in the right direction to achieve it. If you do that the results will take care of themselves.

"Athletes have to be careful they don't get caught up in Rio and the Olympics being so much fun and an awesome experience and let their performance slip. When you turn up you're pretty much as good or bad as you're going to be, you can't change much in the two week Olympic period, so now is the time to put in the hard work."

Drysdale gets asked all sorts of questions from potential first time Olympians and he said it can be a difficult time for those who may be on the cusp of selection.

"What's it like, how does it work, the Olympic village, can my family come and have a look, things like that," he said.

He said it can be a trying time for parents too.

"They're looking for tickets, accomodation, all the family want to go and watch but they don't know if (their son or daughter) is going to make it.

"For some on the fringe parents may be reluctant because it's a lot of money to commit to things now and some athletes feel that a bit from their parents. Obviously they want to make it, but they're not 100 percent sure in themselves."

In reality, the one year out marker is more for promoters and advertisers than it is athletes. The challenges will be the same as a week ago, or in a fortnight's time.

Still August 5 is a line in the sand for the athletes, management and coaches. The clock is ticking.