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Relief coursed through Mahe Drysdale as he secured his Olympic Games single sculling seat for Beijing yesterday - mixed with sympathy for a fierce rival cut down by his own body at the most crucial moment.
Then he did what rowers are prone to do - belted out
another few kilometres warming down on an indoor machine.
When Rob Waddell suffered an attack of atrial fibrillation early in yesterday's third and deciding trial at Lake Karapiro, three-time world champion Drysdale had an easy job of making certain he will have a chance to fulfil his ambition of Olympic gold in August.
The pair have raced seven times in the past couple of months as the national selectors tried to find the fairest method of establishing superiority. Neither champion athlete gave an inch until Waddell's misfortune yesterday.
Waddell had won four of the first six clashes, but when it really mattered a long-absent medical condition returned to end his ambitions of a second Olympic gold medal.
"It's a shame it has happened. He's an awesome competitor and what he has done this summer has been absolutely amazing," Drysdale said.
Drysdale, 28, admitted he'd been nervous before the start, but got out of the blocks smartly and gradually eased clear before it became apparent something was amiss with 33-year-old Waddell.
"It is never good to see someone as great as Rob have a day like that, but he can come back and if he decides he wants to go to Beijing then I'm sure he'll make it into one of the crew boats."
Whether Waddell wants that, in the light of yesterday's massive setback, is another story. What is clear is that when the Olympic rowing team is named tomorrow, Drysdale's name will be locked in.
He was unhappy when the selectors foisted the head-to-head format on him, realising he was being expected to peak several months before the Olympics.
Both had their supporters on the banks of Lake Karapiro, but both got generous applause as they stepped back on shore with their boats on their shoulders. Waddell's cheers had a sympathetic touch; Drysdale's were jubilant.
"I know certain comments in the media have made me the evil one. It has swung back and forwards a little bit.
"It was hard for Rob because he was coming back to the sport and I've been involved with these guys for four years," Drysdale said.
Yesterday ended the most dramatic Olympic battle in New Zealand for years. Now Drysdale can get on with his Beijing build-up, and on the back of some seriously competitive rowing in the last couple of months.
There was hugs and the odd tear from the Waddell camp yesterday; hugs of delight among the Drysdale group after a gruelling campaign for all concerned.
"All you want is for your kids to be happy and fulfil their dreams," Drysdale's mother Robin Owens said yesterday. "It was a little challenging but it had a good outcome."