Pistorius is run out by Oliveira in the T44 200m in the 2012 Paralympics
In rowing terms, think about the Oxford Cambridge boat race this year. Leander Club had raced both crews and found Oxford to be the much faster crew, so lots of the athletes and coaches put early bets on for Oxford to win, before the bookies realised just how hot the Oxford crew were for favourite. Even I, who has never gambled or been tempted, seriously contemplated putting a bet on for Oxford to win. The only reason I didn't was that I was a bit confused about the whole online betting system, having never looked at it before. By the time I figured it out the odds were far less favourable than before and I felt cheated already! We all know what happened in the Boat Race this year and it taught me a few things.
1. Never swim into the Thames during the Boat Race. You will be forever universally hated.
2. Never gamble, the bookies are in business for a reason.
3. Sport is always unpredictable!
Throughout this season I have had many of the other European rowers comment to me that I am 'so lucky', for I have been in my boat since December. Tina and I did our first bit of racing in the double in December and we have been set as this crew since then. No threat of other athletes being introduced to challenge our seats, we stood out as a pair from the GB trialling system in our singles this year and so an early combination was made. The women's eight that wanted European selection had numerous problems, namely lacking sufficient high quality athletes to fill the boat, meaning they were not worried about their seats, but about being able to fill the boat. They did not get into the eight until late in the season, but now the boat has been set they are posting some very encouraging times.
On the other hand, my season has gone the other way. Tina and I had a brilliant Holland Beker Regatta in Amsterdam, we had a clean sweep at women's Henley and narrowly lost out to a top crew at Henley Royal Regatta. We were going really well until a month ago when, five weeks away from Europeans, Tina's back started giving her problems. Tina is an extremely talented athlete but her back is her Achilles heel, having put her out of the sport in 2009 for 18months. The medical team expected that she would never row again. It is a testament to her love of the sport, dedication and iron will that she has made a comeback. Tina has been back in the sport for 18months.
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Now, a slightly sore back is common in any rower due to the heavy and repetitive loading we constantly put our backs through. However, a month ago Tina started getting some more serious back pain in the area of her old injury. She was pulled out of the double for a few sessions to rest her back and get it treated, and a few days later having been in a new combination with a sub I developed a mild stress reaction on my rib. This put me out of the boat for ten days, but happily it coincided with Tina's time out of the boat so we weren't affecting each other. My rib worries cleared up pretty quickly and I started to get back into the boat. The next couple weeks were taken slowly with Tina as she had an injection in her back to try and settle it down. We gradually built up to time back in the double but it was a race against time. All boats were meant to do a 2km race to be considered for selection, but the timing of this race was too early for Tina. So, our selection pieces were set to be less than a week before we were due to fly out to Varese for the Championships.
Two days before our selection pieces, we were still finding our feet in the boat and figuring out what Tina's back was happy with, we had to try some bursts up to race pace. I remember coming off the water feeling that it was not Tina that I'd been in the boat with. She wasn't feeling racy, tough, fast. With a serious back injury history and a new injury in recovery it was impossible for her to put down the power in the boat that was required. Later that day, Ann Redgrave, GB team doctor withdrew Tina from racing the double at Europeans. I fully agreed with the decision, as we would not have been able to race to our full potential and the championships would have certainly have aggravated her injury. It is never easy news to take though, and I was told that I would paddle in my single the following day and do the selection pieces in my single the day after.
Despite having a good run in my single on the selection pieces, and being on track for my personal best time in less favourable conditions, the decision was taken not to race me in my single. The single is an incredibly tough event and the entry list this year at Europeans is, as always, intimidating. Fourteen athletes who have raced at a host of World Cup and World Championships including three London Olympians and six athletes attending the Olympic Qualifying Regatta. In the circumstances it was not a wholly surprising decision not to send me, but incredibly disappointing nonetheless.
Apologies to all of our supporters over this season, you have been fantastic. I desperately wish we could have raced the double, I think it would have been a really exciting championships.
I am looking forward to my end of season break which will start now, although it feels like I haven't really earned it because I didn't get the chance to race. It is days like today that makes me wonder why I do this. Being an athlete is both brilliant and awful, depending on when you ask.
Thank Yous
Special thanks this year to Rihoy and Sons, for my beautiful new boat. It is my baby, I still treat it like gold dust.
The Guernsey Sports Commission and the Rising Stars, I could not do this without your support. Thank you for making me a Rising Star, it is a privilege and I wish everything could go right for me all the time. I only want to give you good news!
Our European Double sponsors: (in no particular order)
Hunter Boots
We have been very lucky to recieve so much support this year, it makes our jobs so much easier. We will come back fighting next season, after recharging our batteries and rediscovering the desire. I look forward to giving you better news next time!
