Gwent's Lucy handed his dream race

4:12pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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WORLD medal rower Tom Lucy has dramatically been handed a dream race today at the Munich World Cup regatta - in the GB flagship four that will defend the Olympic title in Beijing.

The Gwent 19-year-old - 20 later this month - had been due to race a new GB pair with Olly Moore after narrowly losing out on a seat in the eight he won world bronze with on the same course last year.

But injury to Cardiff-born Tom James saw the teenager told yesterday at the 1972 Olympic course that he will be on board the top boat for the first round of the World Cup series.

The former Monmouth School pupil has rocketed through the international rowing ranks since taking world junior gold in Amsterdam less than two years ago, and was named in the 14-man squad last week targeting the Beijing Games.

Lucy was disappointed to find that GB's world medal pair had been included in the eight for Munich and he had been put in a scratch pair with world under-23 medallist Moore, but said he was going to give it his best shot in the two-man boat.

But now he's been given an amazing chance to show what he can do in a crew that took the world title two years running in 2005 and 2006 and are GB's top men's hope of Olympic rowing gold.

Although James is expected to be fit to race in Lucerne in three weeks time, a good performance by Lucy in the four could be the break he needs to get on board a medal chance boat for Beijing.

James only came on board the flagship four last month, taking the seat from Alex Partridge after the world champions flopped to fourth at the worlds last year.

And Lucy has everything to gain, nothing to lose this week as they look to re-establish their Olympic gold medal credentials against world silver medallists Italy and bronze medallists Holland, starting today in the heats.

Also looking for more success in Munich is Gwent rowing coach Robin Williams, who as GB's lightweight squad supremo guided the 72kg men's four to a thrilling world title on the same course eight months ago.

The 11-time Cambridge Boat Race member from Chepstow, also a Monmouth School product, has high hopes for GB's men's lightweight double scull who won bronze at the worlds.

The regatta runs until Sunday, with Lucy's race featured on BBC 2 that afternoon from 3pm to 4pm.