Tomkins and Ginn Reunite for Half an Oarsome Foursome

Half of the famed Australian “Oarsome Foursome” is competing in the national selection time trials in Sydney this week with the intention of taking a new Aussie pair through to the 2004 Olympic Games.

Jamie Tomkins and Drew Ginn, both Olympic gold medallists in Atlanta are hoping to make a comeback after Ginn was shore bound due to a back injury, and Tomkins has been coaching the US men’s team.

Tomkins and Ginn were the favourite pair in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics, but eight weeks before the Games Ginn had to be replaced by Matthew Long. Long and Tomkins did manage to secure a bronze medal at the Games, but for the 36-year-old Tomkins, the “right coloured medal” is the goal for 2004.

The selection of the two old timers is hoped to boost Australian men’s rowing which, unlike the national women’s team performed well beneath expectations in this year’s FISA World Rowing Championships in Lucerne.

The trials will go on for the next four days and will be based on single sculling only. A squad will be selected to participate in a training camp next month and further events next year, leading up to the FISA World Rowing Championships in Seville in September.