Irish Olympic medals hope is pinned on rowers

?It’s always on my mind!? Ireland’s Gearoid Towey does not mince words when asked about Athens. Ever since Towey watched the 1984 Olympics as a seven-year-old he has wanted to win gold. A disappointing finish at Sydney further motivated the World Champion lightweight to continue his quest. 

Last year Towey rekindled his Olympic dream. Teaming up with Ireland’s top single sculler, two-time lightweight World Champion Sam Lynch, the duo joined the highly competitive lightweight double event. The match worked. After barely a season together the pair finished in bronze position at last year’s World Championships in Milan.  

Now under the guidance of Lynch’s coach of 10 years, Thor Nilsen, the two have embarked on a training regime that turns tough into an understatement. Clocking up to 220 kilometres on the water plus running, ergs and weightlifting the duo train up to four times a day at their current base in Seville, Spain. 

Despite the regular absence of coach Nilsen, the duo is self-motivated. ?We have no choice really. All our competitors are pushing themselves and searching for improvements. We have to train hard to stay ahead,? says Lynch. If the water is bad it is not unusual for Lynch to substitute water time for a one and a half hour run. His training philosophy is based on self-satisfaction. ?It is easier to go flat out than to walk away from a session knowing it could have been better,? says Lynch.  

Towey and Lynch’s World Championship success and Olympic potential was recognised earlier this year when the Irish Sports Council presented the duo with the maximum grant of E30,000. This award acknowledged Towey and Lynch as Ireland’s main Olympic medal hope. ?I guess the country will be expecting something from us,? says Towey. But the duo feels no added pressure. ?People know about us and expect us to perform but their expectations are no greater than our own so it’s not a problem,? says Lynch.  

Despite knowing each other for years, 2003 was the first season that Towey and Lynch competed together. Towey, 2001 World Champion in the lightweight pair, had had to adapt to the style and technique of sculling, while Lynch with six years of single sculling had to alter his single attitude. ?It was quite difficult at first,? says Lynch. ?My habits were firmly set.? 

Both athletes hold unqualified respect for each other. Not only do they train together but they also live under the same roof when away on training camps. Lynch, with his ingrained single sculler mentality, has had to adapt to being a team player. Despite initial tension, motivated by Lynch’s intensity, he now readily admits the partnership is good on and off the water.  

Lynch praises stroke man Towey for being the best technical rower he knows while Towey says he has 100 percent trust in his bowman. Their differences compliment each other. ?Sam would probably say I was too relaxed for my own good,? says Towey.  

Outside of rowing Lynch is a medical student. He has taken this year off to focus on Olympic preparation but plans to return to full-time study after Athens. Lynch says rowing will continue. ?I enjoy it too much to stop now.? Towey also plans to continue. ?As long as the motivation is there,? he says.