WREXHAM could be celebrating an Olympic gold medal on Saturday.

Great Britain’s men’s coxless four of Andy Triggs-Hodge, Peter Reed, Steve Williams and Wrexham’s Tom James began Team GB’s defence of their Olympic crown with victory in their heat after beating Italy by a length.

Wrexham will have held its breath as the four rowed the semi-finals yesterday (Wednesday) – after the Chronicle went to press.

But with the crew favourites for the gold medal it will be a disaster if they are not in Saturday’s final.

Only Williams remains from the men’s four, led by Sir Matthew Pinsent, that won gold in Athens four years ago,

They have been dogged by injuries to James and Hodge this season and took their time moving clear of the US crew in the final 250m in the hot and humid conditions on Lake Shunyi.

James, 24, was born in Cardiff – but Coedpoeth, Wrexham, is his home town.

He attended King’s, Chester and Cambridge – taking part in four Boat Races for the Blues.

He took up rowing only after a knee injury meant he had to hang up his running shoes.

But he became a world rowing medallist at junior and senior level and got his first taste of an Olympic Games when he represented Team GB in 2004.

In 2007, he got his Beijing campaign off to a good start, winning bronze in the men's eight at the World Rowing Championships and silver in the men’s four at the World Cup in Lucerne.

Even though he missed World Cup regattas due to injury, he passed a late fitness test before the World Cup finale in Lucerne.

And then, in June 2008, he received the news he’d been selected for the Olympic team.

Sir Mathew Pinsent has told the British four not to be overawed by the heroics of the past team and to row their own race.

He said: “When Steve Redgrave retired after Sydney I continued and we quickly moved on post-Redgrave, it wasn't a burden hanging over us.

“And the boys currently in charge of the four will feel the same. They know past success will not win races in the future, they want to create their own history.

“They are deserved gold medal favourites in their own right, nothing to do with what Steve and I achieved.

“They feel they should win gold because they were world champions in 2005 and 2006, anything other than victory would be a disaster for them.

“The New Zealanders and the Dutch are the ones to watch but this event is so strong, probably four or five boats will fancy their chances.”