Bartley focused on a golden moment (From South Wales Argus)

Bartley focused on a golden moment

8:00am Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Sport

WELSHMAN Chris Bartley is refusing to let anyone hang a gold medal around his neck just yet but, after powering into the lightweight four final at London 2012, he’s convinced Great Britain deserve their favourites tag.

Bartley, who is joined by brothers Peter and Richard Chambers as well as Rob Williams in the boat, will line up for his first ever Olympic final tomorrow, after the British quartet won their semi-final at Eton Dorney.

The Brits can also take confidence from the fact they were the only crew to duck under the six-minute barrier, but having won a gold, silver and a bronze at the three World Cup races this season, 28-year-old Bartley is under no illusions as to the fine margins involved.

But that gold medal came at the last World Cup of the season in June and Bartley believes Great Britain have continued that form at London 2012 – and have their noses in front at present.

“It’s going well,” he said. “We had a good regatta last time in Munich, and we’ve been just working on stuff, trying to keep the same pattern of rowing, work on the same push and just try and improve on that.

“We knew we were on the right path, and the last two races confirmed that for us, so hopefully we can continue doing it and raise our game just a tiny bit for the final.

“We are confident.

“We think we’re the strongest crew at the event, but that depends on us doing the right job really.

“But all the races are very tight, so if we don’t row a ten out of ten, then the chances are we won’t win.

“But that’s the same for everyone really.

“Whoever can deliver everything right on the day will win the gold medal, and we’re working on making that us.”

Bartley certainly talks a good game, but having collected world gold in 2010 and two world bronze medals across his career, he has every right too.

And he rubbished suggestions that setting his sights firmly on the top step of the podium increases the external pressure.

“What we’ve been training and focusing on is how we row the boat, how we row it together – and if we do that right, I think we’ll win,” he added.

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