KEY POINTS:
Rob Waddell returned to row the glassy waters of Lake Karapiro as the sun rose today, a sure sign he is not yet ready to abandon his dream of a third Olympic campaign at Beijing.
His "second life" in the sport he dominated at the advent of the
new millennium has been prolonged, despite Wednesday's public disintegration behind his anointed successor in New Zealand's single sculls seat, three-time world champion Mahe Drysdale.
Waddell's assignment in August has been modified, if the supremely driven solo athlete is to compete on the Shunyi course - it will be as part of a team.
The 33-year-old will spend the next few days attempting to displace Nathan Cohen or Matthew Trott from the men's double scull - the duo that secured New Zealand's participation by finishing sixth at the world championships in Munich last September.
It promises to be an uneasy alliance as the trio mix, match and time trial before the selectors make their call, probably next week.
The incumbents realise if Waddell can prove his irregular heart beat - the catalyst for his downfall two days ago - is manageable an athlete of his quality will be impossible to ignore.
Neither man was available today though Drysdale offered some insight into what lay ahead.
"It's tough on Nathan and Matt but Rob has to prove himself and if you're the incumbent you've got the advantage of being a proven performer.
"Rob's got to show he's significantly better to make that boat go faster."
Should that scenario unfold, Drysdale said his partner should not be concerned about Waddell experiencing another meltdown in Beijing - a New Zealand equivalent of Australia's infamous `Lay down Sally' controversy in Athens where Sally Robbins stopped rowing in the women's eight final.
"Would I trust Rob? Yep. He's obviously a fantastic sculler. He's managed it (the heart problem) up until the Olympics," Drysdale said.
"If Rob Waddell's back in rowing, he's confident he can sort it out. He's a champion and he's not going to come and underdo himself. In that respect I'd have 100 per cent faith in him."
Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) today confirmed six teams tasked with protecting New Zealand as one of the sport's leading nations.
A lightweight double sculls - both men's and women's - and a women's eight will be added providing they finish first or runner-up at the final qualifying regatta in Poznan, Poland, between June 15-18.
The team announcement was fairly straightforward with Duncan Grant, the reigning lightweight single sculls world champion, the only surprise omission.
His specialist event is not on the Olympic schedule and he subsequently missed selection for the Poland regatta as Storm Uru and Peter Taylor were preferred.
Another contentious decision looms for Conrad Robertson, Dick Tonks and Athol Earl after Waddell, understandably despondent after medical misadventure, indicated a willingness to continue despite an ongoing battle with atrial fibrillation.
Matheson was unsurprised Waddell was prepared to concede total defeat.
"He's built in the mould of rowers, you can't sit around and mope too long. He's had some dreams and he wants to try and live them.
"He's been through a pretty tough experience but Rob's a total professional in how he approaches everything.
"Irrespective of the outcome (on Wednesday) he was disappointed that he didn't have the opportunity to perform like he wanted to perform," Matheson said.
Waddell seeks atonement with the backing of RNZ medical director Craig Milne, who was confident medication could regulate his heartbeat - as it did successfully to produce New Zealand's solitary golden moment across the Tasman eight years ago.
Matheson shared that optimism.
"We've had a lot of top advice, we've known about his condition right through his rowing career. Across the last six months Rob has been open and honest about where he's at."
Waddell chose not to undergo an operation or return to high dosage medication when he resumed rowing because he had not experienced any relapses during his seven years of America's Cup yachting with Team New Zealand.
It is unclear what steps he plans to adopt now.
While Waddell still has to prove himself, Drysdale's selection was rubberstamped along with the world champion men's four Carl Meyer, James Dallinger, Eric Murray, Hamish Bond, defending Olympic gold medallists Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell (double sculls) and the women's pair - Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles.
Munich silver medallists Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater (men's pair) and current under-23 single sculls champion Emma Twigg also had their places confirmed.
Uru, Taylor their lightweight double sculls equivalents Candice Hammond and Louise Ayling plus the eight of Rebecca Scown, Simone Hudson, Erin Tolhurst, Anna Rayner, Fiona Patterson, Paula Twinning, Harriet Austin, Emma Feathery and Rachael Goudie (cox) will be hoping to join them from the Poland regatta.
- NZPA
