The Olympic start line is coming

Pete Reed: “Our lives are 100% focused on the crew and our incremental speed gains. Next week we will get to see where we are against the rest of Europe”.

“Hard work, attention to detail and focus” continue to be the order of the day for the GB Rowing Team, according to British Rowing’s Performance Director, Sir David Tanner, as the 100 days to Rio marker falls Wednesday.

“We are just finishing two excellent overseas training camps. We’ve put in a lot of hard work and the speed of the boats in training reflects this”, said Sir David.

The GB squad returns to the UK later this week in advance of next month’s European Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.

This event from May 6-8 is the first big racing opportunity of the Olympic season. The GB Rowing Team will also participate at the World Cups in Lucerne, Switzerland, from May 27-29 and Poznan, Poland, from June 17-19 as Rio preparation continues.  The team for the Olympics will be announced on June 9.

“The Olympic start line is coming”, said Pete Reed, 2012 Champion in the men’s four and World Champion in the men’s eight – the boat that he is racing in Brandenburg.

“Our lives are 100% focused on the crew and our incremental speed gains. Next week we will get to see where we are against the rest of Europe”, he added.

12 from a possible 14 GB boats are qualified to date for Rio. It is likely that the women’s quadruple scull will race the final Olympic qualification regatta held in Lucerne from May 22-24.

“Our rowers are looking good and we continue to strive to find small increments within our overall strategy and longer term plans,” said Sir David. “Organisations like Science in Sport, our nutrition partner, and SAS Analytics, our data partner, are assisting us in this.”

“Our lottery funding is, of course, hugely significant in funding our rowers and in allowing us to engage top people, including world-leading coaches, medical and science staff. We could not achieve what we do without this support.”

Rowing is the nation’s most continuously successful Olympic sport with a gold medal from every Games since 1984 and a final tally of four golds, two silvers and three bronze medals from London 2012.

As part of British Rowing’s preparations for Rio 2016, the organisation is helping to prepare its clubs for the expected surge in interest so there are even more opportunities for the public to get involved with the sport. British Rowing plans to work with clubs across England to help run activities, as well as attending public events to showcase the various rowing disciplines, from indoor rowing to fixed seat to sliding seat and more.

Andy Parkinson, CEO of British Rowing added, “It is a hugely exciting time for everyone at British Rowing as we cross the 100 days to go marker.  Our athletes and staff have worked tirelessly over the past few years to ensure we are in the good shape going into Rio 2016. We hope that Rio will inspire the next generation of rowers, coaches and volunteers, and potentially the next medallists in Tokyo 2020.”

 

WHAT THE ROWERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE MILESTONE:

Zoe de Toledo, cox to the GB Women’s eight said:  “Really looking forward to Europeans, and whilst it’s exciting to think that it’s 100 days to go until Rio, we are definitely taking things one day, one race, at a time. We are going to make sure we keep making the boat faster, every session for the next 100 days.”

Jonny Walton, racing at the European Championships in the open men’s double scull said:  “Only 100 days to go to the start of Rio, 100 days until, hopefully, my first Olympic Games, but it’s been a long and exciting journey to this point and it’s going to be the culmination of lots of hard work over the last four years. Still time to make those improvements and find the speed to get us on that podium. I can’t wait to start racing at the Europeans in Brandenburg.”

Peter Reed, racing at the European Championships in the men’s eight:

“The next 100 days are going to fly by as we have a lot to do and as the old saying goes, we’re having fun!

“We are now at the start of the summer racing season. Our lives are 100% focused on the crew and our incremental speed gains. Next week we will get to see where we are against the rest of Europe and with incredible strength on our continent it will be a huge, first test. 2016 just got real.”

Chris Bartley, racing at the European Championships in the light men’s four

“It is exciting to be part of such a world class squad of athletes, especially with now just 100 days to Rio. As the first race draws closer, the focus from individuals and crews is so easy to see – everyone going that bit further to help their boat go even faster. I’m very excited about our first race; the Europeans – the long winter is over, it’s time to see where stand in our event.”

Kat Copeland, racing at the European Championships in the light women’s double.

“I can’t believe it’s only 100 days to go! I think it will fly by – I’m so, so excited to get there and get racing! In the meantime, we’re just going to see how much we can squeeze out of these 100 days and put them to use as best as we can.”

 

For background information about the The GB Rowing Team contact the Press office comms@gbrowingteam.org.uk or 07831 755351

For picture requests please contact: GBRTpressoffice@gbrowingteam.org.uk

GB Rowing Team website, including full rower biogs: www.gbrowingteam.org.uk

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