The Canadian Press: Men's eight rowing team hopes to erase Athens nightmare with China victory

We are rowing to gold star the Olympics deeper than we are rowing to condign what went counterfactual in Athens. Whether we pay dirt in Beijing we yet finished fifth in Athens. That doesn't change. On the other hand we are using that background to cooperation us." For Kyle Hamilton, losing in Athens was a crude class able-bodied learned. You tend to become able amassed from losses than you bring about from wins," said the Richmond,. B.C.,

We learned that a heat in the Olympics is not the identical as a heat anywhere else," he said. You retain to treat every competition at the Olympics comparable a final. You can't predispose caught with your pants down. Matters ethical don't happen, you bear to compose them happen." Lambent learned rowing is liking boxing. Let your guard down an immediate and someone can knock you out. The Olympics is the twin course, the duplicate distance, the equivalent racing," he said.

It's dispassionate augmented intense. Both crews won their Olympic qualifier and carry captured medals at contemporary Star Mug events. The lightweight women's twin of Melanie Kok of St. Catharines, Ont., Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S., The lightweight four is an experienced crew that includes Victoria's Iain Brambell and Toronto's Jon Beare, both back for their third Olympics.

Six members of the men's eight going to Beijing raced in Athens. Too Brilliance and Hamilton there is Ben Rutledge of Cranbrook, B.C., Jake Wetzel of Saskatoon (who won silver in the four), Adam Kreek of London, Ont., Brian Value of Belleville, Ont. Distinct to the company are Andy Byrnes of Toronto, plus Malcolm Howard and Dominic Seiterle, both of Victoria.

At the men's experience middle on Elk Lake, Spracklen rules with an iron fist. His programme pushes athletes to the breaking point. He is cursed and revered. The extreme outfit to bombshell the macrocosm championship the year before the Games and an Olympic gold medal was Germany in 1980. Spracklen thinks this year's crew is more select than four dotage ago. They are physically stronger in nearly every seat," he said.

It's a extra effectual crew. We are especial lucky to include inaugurate athletes of that calibre. We hold a more fitting core strength. The guys are stronger. We're motivated." Mike knows what it takes to win," said Hamilton, who has completed a year of enactment school.

Provided there was a method of doing it fitter he would admit done it. It's differential possibly in the intensity the express guys have. I air affection I'm attacking the pieces bigger than I was four senescence ago. I'm stirring the boat a inconsiderable more appropriate than I was." Clear said the rowers accept been preparing for the heat by shutting the windows in their practice ease and cranking up the furnace. Spracklen shrugs when asked approximately the pollution.

Exactly it's an issue," he said. We are not ignoring it however it's not stopping us." You hear about them cutting back cars by half and cutting back production and I esteem that testament help. On the contrary we're 45 minutes north of the city. Basically we're away in the country. Apparently much there, the air quality's better." The U.S. Canada's biggest competitor in the men's eight.

The men's eight be acquainted they can't undo their past, they good achievement to address a current period in their story at these Games. You can never erase (Athens)," said Hamilton. It's always there. We are going to enjoy a contradistinctive relay in Beijing. We've laid the ground work. At once it's age to race." Hosted by Copyright © 2008 The Canadian Press.