Mahe Drysdale says his clashes with Rob Waddell have promotional value but will not count towards a slot at Beijing. Photo / Greg Bowker
Mahe Drysdale put some ginger back into his Olympic single sculls battle by beating Rob Waddell yesterday, but reiterated his concerns at the process put in place by the sport's bosses.
Waddell, the 2000 Olympic gold medallist, won the first two races but three-time world champion Drysdale, getting
stronger and gaining in confidence as is his wont as the season progresses, prevailed by half a length at Lake Karapiro, with the third cog in the single sculling wheel, promising Nathan Cohen, third.
Next up are the New Zealand champs this month, then the ultimate decider, the national trials in March which will resolve who gets the job for the Beijing Games in August.
The margin between the pair is slender. There's every chance they'd take gold and silver in Beijing, but each country is allowed just one representative.
Drysdale has always been unimpressed at Rowing New Zealand's decision to pit the pair against each other in a series of races which have strong promotional value but will count for nothing once the trials start.
"I still don't agree we should be doing what we are. But it's been set, there's nothing I can do about it," he told the Herald last night. Drysdale admitted having to go through the series of races had stiffened his resolve.
"If I'm put in a corner I'm always going to fight my way out of it. I was always confident I could beat Rob, but I still think there's better ways this whole situation could have been handled," he added.
Drysdale maintains relations with Waddell are fine, although put two desperately single-minded athletes up against each other and they would not be human if there wasn't a spot of tension as trials time gets closer.
"I've got no problem with Rob. He's come back and done very well ... Obviously one of us is going to be in Beijing in the single, one of us isn't. Hopefully it means one will be in a crew boat and coming up with the goods for New Zealand."
It's just that neither plans on being in another boat.
"I only want the single," Drysdale said. "That's where I've stood all the time. If I didn't get the single spot I'd have to reassess that in March. Ultimately I suppose the bigger goal is I want an Olympic gold medal so it's something I would consider. Hopefully it's not going to come to that."
Drysdale could have been speaking on Waddell's behalf too.
