Cover Image: Olympic Channel
The glory of Rio 2016 provided high expectations for just how dominant Great Britain could become in international rowing. GB ran away at the top of the rowing medal table in Rio – with 3 golds and 2 silvers. Strength in depth like no other nation.
Sarasota beckoned for the 2017 World Championships, and it appeared that GB were out of their depth after their South American success. GB finished 8th in the medal table with Ireland placing 6th and Italy coming out on top. Although it is expected that the first year of the Olympiad will be less successful, the European Championships on home water in 2018 illustrated how the squad struggled to find their momentum. Great Britain placed 12th in Europe – a result that would have been inconceivable in 2016 or 2012. It was then when it began to be questioned: were the golden days of GB rowing behind us, or were other nations finally catching up with us? Although perhaps a different story for the women – gaining silver in the eight showing consistency.
Plovdiv played host for the 2018 World Championships, GB placed 12th overall highlighting just how much was left to be done in the second half of the Olympiad. Yet, the men’s eight did step up to the mark with two seconds separating the top 4 crews – providing some much-needed hope for catching the infamous ‘Deutcshland Achter’.
The penultimate season before the Tokyo Olympics saw GB step up once again, this time in Linz for the World Championships. The men achieved bronze in both the four and the eight, with 5 seconds separating the whole of the M8+ A final. The men’s double also came in fourth. The women’s eight placed 5th amongst a tough field, with Vicky Thornley coming in 4th, while Ireland took gold in the W1x.
The lack of momentum during this Olympiad made it difficult for GB to ‘bank on’ any specific medals in Tokyo. In previous years, it was unthinkable that Glover and Stanning would not win gold for GB, or that the men’s eight would not achieve a top 3 place. Although this Olympiad has been exceptionally challenging for our athletes – who bear the weight of representing the greatest rowing nation in the world – perhaps this additional year could be a great thing for our Olympic team.
Sport is all about performing when it matters. Yet, I would argue that a true Olympic Champion should be so great that they are capable of performing 12 months later than expected and still be able to be the fastest on the planet. Key to being a professional athlete is peaking in the right moment, although it would be heartbreaking to see athletes struggle to maintain such excellence for a further year, this added training time could separate the best from the rest. There can be no doubt that this plague is greater than any Olympic Games, but I look forward to the unification, togetherness and respect that the Olympics provide. A sense of being united as a world, through sport and as a nation in support of our super-humans.
But how will this virus directly affect the Olympic Regatta?
The only thing that can come out of this horrific situation is greatness. Greatness in our passion, commitment, performance and our dedication. The Olympic Champions that take home their gold medals from Tokyo in 2021 will be beyond extraordinary. The way that this disease has provoked us to re-evaluate so many parts of our lives – could surely only improve the quality of the Tokyo Olympics. The privilege to compete, the privilege to represent your nation and to be among the greatest sportsmen and women to grace the Earth. The renewed desire to achieve and relish in every moment on the world stage could only bring on the competition at the Olympics. We’re going to see final 500m sprints like never before, each nation is going to stand up and be counted and I don’t think we can predict any nation, crew or individual to certainly win any event. This year is going to bring new meaning to the word ‘resilience’ and I doubt that any seat to Tokyo next summer is safe because if this devastating situation can teach us anything, surely it is that any possible eventuality can happen?
“…perhaps this additional year could be a great thing for our Olympic team.”
I guess what I’m trying to suggest is that yes, this could cause a huge financial burden on governing bodies and immense stress on athletes, but the celebration of human excellence that is the Olympic Games will prevail. The standard of racing will improve in 2021 as well as us, the supporters, having a far greater appreciation for our athletes and the chance to watch live sport. The scenes in the grandstand of fans stood shoulder to shoulder in applause and the crewmates hugging in celebration feels incredibly far away, but it will be this renewed sense of appreciation and togetherness that dominates the 2021 Olympic Regatta.
And so, in answer to the question of what does Covid-19 mean for the Olympics? I believe this sets us up for the greatest sporting spectacle of our generation.
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