New Zealand rowers had their best ever results in the world championships which finished in Slovenia last night. They won nine medals – four gold, one silver and four bronze. Mahe Drysdale won his 5th world championship in the men’s single sculls. He has had a back injury for the last 18 months so he trains on a bicycle in the afternoon after rowing in the morning.
Hamish Bond and Eric Murray won their 3rd world championship in the men’s pairs. The men’s double sculls and the women’s pairs also won gold medals.
In total, 12 crews qualified for the London Olympics next year. New Zealand has been champions in rowing for many years. Our first rower in the Olympics was in 1920. By 2008, New Zealand won 16 rowing medals in the Beijing Olympics. Rowing has become a popular sport for women as well as men, and for secondary school students.
Listen to November 10th 2010 and February 5th 2010 to hear more about New Zealand rowing.