Rob Waddell. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Rob Waddell, picked to partner Nathan Cohen in the New Zealand double sculls team at the Beijing Olympics, is pleased to be able to focus on preparation now the selection process is over.
Waddell, whose challenge for the single sculls spot against world champion Mahe Drysdale capsized in
the national trials last month because of a long-standing heart problem said it was no longer an issue because he had resumed taking medication for it.
"I hadn't been on medication for three years and was thinking the problem was dormant but unfortunately it came out in a very public way [during the final trial]," Waddell said yesterday.
"We have got a good management plan in place and I am very confident I am doing everything I can."
When he won the Olympic single scull gold medal in Sydney eight years ago, he had been on a very high dosage of medication to get through but "we are in a much better spot now".
Rowing New Zealand's decision to go with Waddell comes at the expense of Matthew Trott, who qualified with Cohen for an Olympics double sculls berth by finishing 6th at the world championships in Munich last September.
Waddell said there had been a delay in naming the squad because he wanted a programme put in place "to ensure we had the very best chance in Beijing".
"It has been ongoing with Rowing NZ and it has been part of the process and we have come out with a package we are comfortable with."
He said he was very disappointed for Trott.
"It's an unfortunate reality of sport. He's a very good competitor and I hope he stays with the sport because he's got a very good future ahead of him."
Rowing NZ high performance director Andrew Matheson said he had spoken to Trott at length.
" Obviously for anyone missing out on his dream of competing at the Olympics, it is pretty devastating.
"But he is still a very, very important member of our team - he's going to act as our spare throughout the Olympics programme covering all our top boats."
- NZPA
