Faces at Munich ? New Zealand's Dave Waddell

Waddell will join three of the 2001 men’s four, seen here in the foreground.
© Sybrand Treffers

In the lead up to the 2000 Olympics the name Rob Waddell was enough to make grown single sculling men race to find a doubles partner. What will the name Dave Waddell do to the men in the four?

The Munich World Cup is the ?coming-out? regatta for the older Waddell brother, Dave. However, Waddell is not new to the international rowing world. He’s simply been having a bit of a break.  Last seen in Lucerne in 1996, Waddell was in the New Zealand men’s eight hoping to qualify for the Atlanta Olympics. This was not to be. In what Waddell calls, ?soul destroying,? he decided that time was ripe to get on with his career.

By coincidence, Waddell’s work found him in Sydney in the Olympic year and rowing inspiration came in the shape of a gold medal win by his brother, Rob, in the men’s single. He also decided that you only have one time in life to reach your peak as an athlete. ?I have a desire to make the most of myself as an athlete,? he says.

Waddell joined the local rowing club, The University of Technology in Sydney (UTS), and was fortunate to be training alongside the Australian men’s four that won bronze at the 2000 Olympics, under coach, Tim McLaren. ?The athletes were very good. The environment was great and Tim McLaren is an excellent coach,? says Waddell. 

Waddell’s level of commitment increased as he continued to train at UTS through the summer of 2001 and 2002.

Already by the start of this year Waddell could see the improvement in his performance and he decided to trial for the New Zealand team. To give it his best shot he took three months leave without pay from his job and solely focused on rowing. ?My improvements were huge,? says Waddell. He raced at the New Zealand nationals coming third in the men’s single and continued through the trial process to finally be selected for the men’s four.

This selection has not come without sacrifice. To join the New Zealand team he had to quit his job, leave his wife behind in Sydney and spend a winter rowing in the rain, wind and cold on New Zealand’s Lake Karapiro.

The team leaves on July 27 for Europe and Waddell is remaining modest on expectations for Munich. ?Training has been going well. Prognostically we’re going well. I’m just keen to get away from the New Zealand winter.?