Athletes in Poznan: Alan Campbell

Great Britain’s Alan Campbell is an only child and takes part in the lone single sculling event, the men’s single. Correlation? Perhaps, but Campbell is no loner. Campbell is part of the elite group of scullers who are friends off the water, but on the water they fight relentlessly for a medal spot. Campbell regularly takes a podium position, but a World Champion title still eludes him. Campbell is racing at the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland.

World Rowing talked to Campbell about his 2009 season and his Poznan experience.

World Rowing: How’s it going?
Alan Campbell: I feel pretty good, I had a good running up. It’s one of my favorite rowing courses, Poznan is a very good place for the World Championships – it’s so close to the centre of the town. You have the square to relax in the evening, people enjoying the park, girls on the banks…

WR: Some competitors mentioned the wind conditions?
AC: The wind is the same for pretty much everyone, but this is an outdoor sport, so it’s part of it. I’m here to race, not to worry about the conditions

WR: What are your expectations for these championships?
AC: 2008 was a tough year for me. I had a knee problem which was a very hard experience. I want to prove what I can do and I came here to rectify the situation. Mahe (Drysdale) is “the man in my way”, as he actually is in the way of everyone. He is one of the phenomenon athletes. He was unlucky at the Olympic Games and had to deal with it but he is now even stronger than before. I’ll try to challenge him for gold.

WR: There seems to be a true friendship between the single scullers
AC: We know each other pretty good. You know we did the Head of the River race (in Great Britain) earlier this year together (in an eight) and we’ll go to the Head of the Charles (in the USA) together in October. Lassi Karonen will be back in the boat – he was replaced last year by André Vonaburg because of injury.

For the Head of the River we trained for five days. We all have different rowing backgrounds so it was a bit of an experience when we all went into the boat, we nearly fell in! There was also a language barrier but we were able to come over all of it. Bill Barry, my coach (and organiser) had a big influence in this as well as Ali Williams our cox. She is very switched on, very intelligent and will again be our cox for the Head of the Charles where she will bring us more advantage. She knows the course as she coxes at Harvard University.

All the single scullers have a huge respect for each other. Doing the single is hard. On the water there is no one to encourage you and actually you feel like being “in the same boat” as the other single scullers. Although on the water no one wants to let someone beat you, you feel related to them. You share how tough it is to get there. We share the same spirit, we share more in common.

Marcel Hacker (Germany’s top single sculler) was a big surprise, he comes across as an eccentric, and is one too but he is one of the bigger team players. I will also row in a double with him at the Head of the Charles. It might be a lot with the M8+ as well but really enjoyable. I am never going to make money from rowing so I need to enjoy!

WR: Tell us about your lead up to these championships?
AC: I first won the trials (for the 5th time consecutively). It was really hard. Mathew Wells finished second and was very close. It felt harder than the Rowing World Cups which were more easy because there is less pressure. You don’t have to win to get your place.

I then participated in the first two World Cups with good results. I didn’t go to the final World Cup. I then went for two and a half weeks for a training camp in Austria, then went to Germany and finally came here.

WR: Do you have any sparring partners?
AC: I row alongside a few spare men’s single scullers. I also trained next to Catherine Grainger. She is very tough and tries to hold me off! It’s good to have someone to row next to, it keeps you focused.

WR: What are your longer term plans?
AC: 2012 of course! Rowing the men’s single in a home Olympics is something very special. There is nothing I want more that winning gold in front of my home crowd!

WR: Is there something you would like to add?
AC: Last year really was very difficult and I want to thank everyone who supported me – my coach, my parents, my friends and family, my sponsor and the team. It was very hard to come through and I only could because I got lots of help. Also to all the people who turned up to Beijing; it was hard but I enjoyed it.