New Zealand Olympic Selection

Rowing New Zealand took a long-term approach in choosing their crew for the Athens Olympics. Selected athletes underwent rigorous trials that lasted a week with three days of time trials and a 2000 metre erg test.

New Zealand has already qualified four boats for the Olympics and there were no surprises amongst the women when World Champions Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell were named for the double. Sonia Waddell will go to her second Olympic Games as New Zealand’s single sculler in the boat she qualified last year.

Sonia Waddell of New Zealand
© Getty Images

There were surprises however amongst the men when the qualifying pair changed in final selection with George Bridgewater taking the place of Olympian Rob Hellstrom. The men’s four who also qualified last year had one change. Ian Smallman lost his spot to Eric Murray. The two will now compete at this year’s World Championships in a coxed pair.

Rowing New Zealand also selected two crews to aim for qualification at Lucerne in June. They include the men’s double and women’s pair.

There are high expectations on the women’s double as New Zealand’s biggest gold medal hope. The pair showed their form on the erg, Georgina finishing only two seconds off her 2002 World Record of 6.28.

Rowing is the first New Zealand team to be named for Athens and crews will leave for Europe in June.

OLYMPIC TEAM

Women’s Double Scull
Caroline Evers-Swindell
Georgina Evers-Swindell

Women’s Single Scull
Sonia Waddell

Men’s Coxless Four
Mahe Drysdale
Eric Murray
Carl Meyer
Donald Leach

Men’s Coxless Pair
George Bridgewater
Nathan Twaddle