Rowing: Team deserves more recognition, says former champ

Former Olympic champion Athol Earl believes the New Zealand public might not yet have fully comprehended the enormity of the country's deeds at the rowing world championships in Japan.

Earl said it was difficult to compare the present rowers' achievements with what occurred in Munich in 1972 when he was member of the New Zealand gold-winning eight.

He said the main difference was that he and his teammates got more publicity.

"It was the Olympics and New Zealand sport was at a low -- the rugby wasn't doing too well," he said.

"These rowers deserve a lot more. I hope they get their day in the sun.

"What they did defies logic -- winning four gold medals and winning four in a row."

In 45 minutes at Gifu on Saturday, single sculler Mahe Drysdale, men's pair George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle, women's pair Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh, and Olympic double sculls champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell all won gold.

For the Evers-Swindells, it was their third world title in a row.

About 70 people were at Auckland airport to welcome the team home today and Earl was among rowing identities who mounted a guard of honour for the rowers at the terminal.

He said what happened in central Japan at the weekend had still not sunk in for him

"It's the unbelievability of it," he said.

"They kept on winning and winning."

Earl said his own prediction had been two golds for New Zealand -- for the Evers-Swindells and for the men's pair.

"Mahe's effort was phenomenal," he said.

"I hoped the women's pair might win, but I was frightened of those Australians. However, Nicky just gets better and better. She'll tell you she's like a fine wine, she gets better with age."

Earl added that what should not be forgotten was the feat of the men's coxless four in finishing sixth in their event.

"I was really proud of them" he said.

"They battled all winter and in the final they were so gutsy."

- NZPA