Rowing: Injury blow for Olympic hopeful

May 16 2008 Chester Chronicle

BEIJING medal hope Tom James has suffered a setback in his bid to follow Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent to Olympic golden glory.

The former Chester King’s School pupil was due to race for Great Britain’s flagship four at the Munich World Cup last Thursday, only to pull out the night before with an unspecified injury.

Although it was a massive blow for James, 24, he is expected to be back on board for the next World Cup in Lucerne on May 30.

After winning the bow seat in the GB four, a delighted James said: “There’s an amazing GB pedigree in the boat, following the likes of Steve Redgrave and Matt Pinsent.

“It’s a great chance to measure yourself against what they did. You’re not going to win four or five Olympic gold medals, but one would be pretty amazing.”

James, of Coedpoeth, a former Cambridge University student, won the seat alongside Athens Olympic champion Steve Williams and his two-time world champion crew-mates Andy Hodge and Peter Reed.

Previously he subbed in the crew in place of Alex Partridge when they won at Henley last year and took World Cup silver in Lucerne.