Comments from Team GB rowers on today's events at the Sea Forest Waterway
Matt Rossiter
Age: 31 Hometown: Berkshire: Newbury
Result: Finished fourth in a time of 5:45.78 in the Men's Four final, with Ollie Cook, Sholto Carnegie and Rory Gibbs. Gold was won by Australia.
On the conclusion of the race
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in. It all happened so
fast. You like to put your head on the pillow and feel proud and think you’ve done your best. We tried our best but we really screwed up there at the finish so it’s a bit heart-breaking."There’s no sugar-coating it - we’re absolutely devastated.”
On missing out on winning a sixth successive medal in the event
"That sucks. Ultimately we were putting that to bed and just doing what we could. We didn’t deliver our best today which is the heart-breaking thing.
"We knew the Aussies would go out hard. Then we checked them and were coming back a bit. But everything you do has a cost. We needed to put ourselves in a position to win it and maybe that was the reason the wheels came off a bit at the end."
On the role of the pandemic in the result
"I don’t think we can blame anything. All season we’ve obsessed about being consistent and then when it’s really mattered we weren’t consistent.
"We’ve probably been in a better place because of COVID. I’m 31 but it’s my first Olympiad in the national team and I’m definitely in a better place than I would have been 12 months ago and I’m sure the same goes for the boys.
"If you were to pluck excuses, it’s hot, we’re really used to these conditions but I wouldn’t say Covid has made a massive difference.
"The British Rowing team has done a great job preparing for us. We’ve been doing temperature checks and saliva swabs for months now. So there are no excuses there."
Harriet Taylor
Age: 27 Hometown: Berkshire: Sunningdale
Result: Fourth in a time of 6:21.52 in the Women's Four final, with Karen Bennett, Rebecca Shorten and Rowan McKellar
On the race
“We had a really good start and middle. We were just trying to stay calm and in our lane, because obviously the wind is making things quite choppy, quite bumpy.
“Honestly, it is the best race that we have ever done, and we are really, really happy with that.
“The last bit didn’t get us across the line in the right place, but I don’t think we could have done anything better. That was as good as we could have done today.
“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet to be honest."
On the conditions
“Yeah it was quite tricky. Like I said it was really bumpy.
“We just tried to sit on top of the water, and not be phased by it.
“I don’t know how good a job we did, but felt we did ok.
On previous GB success
“I think there is pressure, but you need that to thrive and to get through the training.
“You know what the outcome might be.
“I think we were trying to create our own legacy with the women’s four, and trying to do our own thing.
“Obviously today that was not meant to be, but we are trying to add [to the British legacy].”
Karen Bennett
Age: 32 Hometown: Scotland: Edinburgh
Result: Fourth in a time of 6:21.52 in the Women's Four final, with Harriet Taylor, Rebecca Shorten and Rowan McKellar
On how it was to come back to the Olympics, five years after she competed in Rio
“Obviously, it was really gutting we didn’t medal, but we did our best race out there.
“We have not really been together for that long. So I think we should be really proud of that performance.
“It is just really frustrating and gutting, that our performance was only good enough for fourth rather than third.
“You want something to show for everything you have been through. We are all going to be gutted and thinking what if.
“But we always train with no regrets. Being there for each other is something we do really well, that is something we also had in Rio.
“I feel lucky to be with these girls, and to share the experience with them.
“I’m just devastated but at the same time, I have got them and we have all the support we need.”
Graeme Thomas
Age: 32 Hometown: Lancashire: Preston
Result: Fourth in a time of 6:06.48 in the Men's Double Sculls, with John Collins. China took the third spot on the podium behind France and Netherlands
On the result
"Absolutely devastated. We came here with high hopes, had two good training camps, good run in.
"Maybe we didn't start the regatta how we wanted to in the heat, stepped on in the semi, third fastest qualifier, definitely in with a shout, but we didn't have what it takes today.
"We gave it everything. The will was there but it just wasn't fast enough.
"I was making the calls earlier than we wanted to try to put the pressure on but the moves weren't making enough headway.
"There's not much I'd do differently. I was pretty much blown 50 metres before the line so I'd spent everything I had."
John Collins
Age: 32 Hometown: London: Twickenham
Result: Fourth in a time of 6:06.48 in the Men's Double Sculls, with Graeme Thomas. China took the third spot on the podium behind France and Netherlands
On the result
"When you're as well trained as we are, it's not so much a pain thing, it's more your mind is desperately trying to dig around trying to find some power somewhere and your body's closing in around you.
"You do kind of feel a bit like a prisoner in your own body.
"And that almost amplifies the frustration because you have the will to do what needs to be done but just not the capacity.
"We used all our calls earlier than we would normally to try to get into a medal position but the consequence was we ran out of steam at the end without getting past the Chinese. Hats off to them for that. It took class to do that.
"Part of my mindset was if anybody's going to be in front of us I'm going to make them absolutely bleed to do it. Well they did so I've just got to tip my hat to them really."
Name: Helen Glover
Age: 35 Hometown: Cornwall: Penzance
Result: Finished second in a time of 6:49.39 in the first semi-final to qualify for the Women's Pair final, with Polly Swann
On how proud she is to make final
“I only had been rowing for a month or so, a year ago.
“We feel we should be here as a crew, so it’s not a huge celebration.
“But in other way of course we are celebrating it, as a story of how far we have come. But it is also a story about how far we have to go. We are excited for the next 24 hours."
On how the semi-final felt
“It feels like we have helped acclimatise. Some elements of dealing with the weather, and how it feels racing in these conditions.
“The normal progression of a regatta in a different country I guess.
“Quite simple things about how it will feel out there.
“We felt quite calm. Everyone wants to be on the start line tomorrow morning. There was a race on the other side of the track to us that we probably could have anticipated a bit more.
“Then we reacted and got back into that position of qualifying.
“It is a very competitive event, you wouldn’t have written this final at the beginning of the year, but that is what is exciting.”
On support
“Just want to thank everyone [the British public] for all the support so far.
“Lots of parents have been in touch with me, and said this has changed their perspective on parenthood.
“Also on how they want to bring up their little girls and boys, in terms of what they can do and achieve.
“There is a small part of me representing those people, and a large part representing my children.
“I couldn’t have picked a better partner to do it with it either. The most understanding person with my lifestyle.
“The way we made our year, our own, was really unique. You saw Polly Swann out there in the stroke seat, and I know at our best there is more to come.
On her husband watching
“Steve probably didn’t sleep all night. He would have been up and waiting for it, but I haven’t spoken to him yet.
“He’ll have been up all night watching, then the kids will wake up at about five o’clock, so he won’t have slept last night!”
Name: Polly Swann
Age: 33 Hometown: Scotland: Edinburgh
Result: Finished second in a time of 6:49.39 in the first semi-final to qualify for the Women's Pair final, with Helen Glover
On the race delay
“I think we came out to Tokyo, knowing things were going to be up and down.
“We are by the sea. There are typhoons, there is all sorts.
“All athletes are always ready for any changes, could be a few days before or a few minutes before. I don’t think we minded.”
Mohamed Sbihi
Age: 33
Hometown: Surbiton, London
Result: Second in the repechage behind New Zeland to qualify for the men's eight final, with Josh Bugajski, Jacob Dawson, Tom George, Charles Elwes, Oliver Wynne-Griffith, James Rudkin, Tom Ford, Henry Fieldman
On the race
“I think we clearly tried to have a better start than the other day, and that got us in a better position.
“Clearly there has been a bit of nerves running through the crew. The last 72 hours have been quite challenging mentally, as well as physically.
“We maybe let the conditions get on top of us a bit. The Kiwis got ahead of us and it was job done in those conditions.
“It became more about crossing the line in a healthy shape.
“The most important thing is to get ourselves safely through. I am still disappointed with the way we rowed the second half.
“It gives the other crews a bit of a sniff, and they will live with that until Friday."
On New Zealand's performance
“They got the damage done in the second 500m. I don’t know when the lead changed in the race, but they got in front and sailed a little bit more confidently.
“No matter what we were throwing in the middle of the boat, we never clawed it back or made an impact, because they had good momentum.
“In these conditions all you need is a little bit of momentum on your side and that is it.
“You can see when you push crews to their limit they will start making mistakes."
On how they succeed in the final on Friday
“I am still trying to work that out at the moment!
“Some of it is about building momentum through the week and being positive.
“We pitched in a bit too low. So it has been a struggle the past few days.
“Everybody now is going to line up on Friday thinking they can win. We’re going to have to try and get in front and keep there for as long as we can.
“The most important stroke is the one across that line.”
Imogen Grant
Age: 25 Hometown: Cambridgeshire: Cambridge
Result: Won their semi-final in a time of 6:41.99 to reach the lightweight double sculls final, with Emily Craig
On the race
“In women’s double especially, this is a very high quality event. Whichever semi-final we were going to be in, meant there were going to be lots of high-quality crews that we needed to race.
“So it was a good marker to then win the semi.
“It puts us in a really position for tomorrow, if it is a cross-wind and we have to re-draw lanes that gives us that top spot.
“I think just improving race-on-race is something we have worked on a lot, ever since first coming together in 2019.
“Back then we were largely untested.
“From the heat to the semi-final we actually ended up with quite a few days of training in between with the typhoon, so I think we used them really well.”
On the final
“Everyone in the final is really fast and really good. It is hard to stay on top for a long time in the women’s doubles.
“It is going to be about who wants it the most, and who is willing to dig the deepest hole.
“The Olympic games only comes once every four years, and in this case five. So who knows what to expect?
“I think the only thing you can expect is the unexpected. We have another gear to find, and we’ll find where that puts us tomorrow.”
Name: Emily Craig
Age: Hometown: East Sussex: Mark Cross
Result: Won their semi-final in a time of 6:41.99 to reach the lightweight double sculls final, with Imogen Grant
On the semi-final race
“It felt great out there. It was a clean race which is what we were looking for. I think we were rewarded for that.
“Hopefully it is a good sign for tomorrow and the final.”
On who is the crew to beat
“We are pretty sure that it is going to be a very spicy final.
“There are six crews and three medals up for grabs. To be honest it is anyone’s game.
“We need to just cross that line first.”
Hannah Scott
Age: 22 Hometown: Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Result: Won the Women's Quadruple Sculls B Final, to finish seventh overall, with Lucy Glover, Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne and Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne
On winning the ‘B’ final
“In ways it was satisfying (the win).
“If we hadn’t done that today I think we would have been more unsatisfied. We pulled ourselves back to where we in the first place.
“I don’t think we quite showed what we had in the first part of the regatta, but I am really proud we got ourselves to this point today and pulled us through.
“For that reason I am satisfied, but hungry again I guess so onwards and upwards.”
On the experience
“What we learned from the regatta, is something that will live with me for the rest of my time in rowing.
“If we come away with maybe a place or two higher, not saying we wouldn’t want to go for everything, but it would have been a different type of hunger we would have been leaving with.
“What we have been left with, is going to drive us forward for the next three years. It is horrendous at the moment, but I think as we move forward it’ll come through.
“Hopefully this result isn’t going to be our defining moment and it’s just part of the journey.”
On whether the crew will stay together
“As individuals I respect these girls immensely, and I still do. Today was a team effort, we all had to show up again.
“I think in terms of driving forward British sculling for the women, we can all say we are really proud and have still done that.
“Hopefully we can bring it forward again, and keep punching."
Name: Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne
Age: 22 Hometown: Herefordshire, Hereford
Result: Won the Women's Quadruple Sculls B Final, to finish seventh overall, with Lucy Glover, Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne and Hannah Scott
Whether the crew will stay together
“You don’t really know, everything can change, but for me it is important we have more time together.
“I want to drive it forward and look to see what we can over the next three years. There is no point in parking it and giving in.
“Mathilda has been in the project longer than I have but just going through the qualification regatta with everything that could happen, really does mean something.
“It gives us a rounded perspective. I’m still young, this is only my first games, I have only done two senior championships now, and I want to look back in the future and think ‘that was a really good experience to go through.”
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