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London 2012 Olympics: Great Britain"s men"s eight win bronze in final

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Eight left with bronze after daring to fight with the giants and dream at Dorney

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UPDATED:

20:10 GMT, 1 August 2012

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For Greg Searle, retirement came with a bronze medal, a final burn of the muscles and the sole regret that he was unable to wear his lucky school rugby socks in the Great Britain eight.

His last race at the highest level at least turned out to be a sensational contest, the home crew bravely challenging the German favourites for gold before losing out to Canada for the silver in the closing stretch as they paid the price for earlier adventure.

At 40, Searle, a gold medallist 20 years ago today in Barcelona, goes back into normal life with head held high and advice for crew-mates such as stroke Constantine Louloudis, who is half his age but appeared twice as upset at a third-place finish.

Giving it their all: The men's eight won bronze

Giving it their all: The men's eight won bronze

Medal men: The Great Britain team pose with their bronze medals

Medal men: The Great Britain team pose with their bronze medals

The veteran was not seriously put out
at Olympic regulations forcing him to wear the universal ankle socks but
he did feel it touches on a more profound point that his GB rowing
successors can take on board.

‘Guys who are full-time can find the
training tough and I do worry that it can turn into a job,’ he
reflected. ‘I would just say to others that as well as being
professional in your approach, keep the passion and love for what you
do. That is why Helen Glover and Heather Stanning have done so well —
because they love it.’

Winners float: Canada (left) took silver, Germany (centre) gold, Great Britain (right) bronze

Winners float: Canada (left) took silver, Germany (centre) gold, Great Britain (right) bronze

Searle’s life now will be a ‘blank
canvas’ with family getting priority. ‘I have missed a lot of things
that my children have done,’ he said. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing
their sports days again. But I have no regrets about coming back, I’m
very proud of what we have done over the past three years.’

Louloudis, at 20 marked out for
greatness already, will resume his studies at Oxford next term after a
race which he said forced him to dig deeper than ever before.

Making a splash: The Germany team throw their cox Martin Sauer into the water after winning gold

Making a splash: The Germany team throw their cox Martin Sauer into the water after winning gold

Not long after the halfway point Great
Britain were just ahead of the Germans, unbeaten since Beijing, and
looked in sight of a sensational victory with Eton Dorney’s increasingly
landmark ‘Wall of Sound’ pulling them home. In the end they were nearly
edged off the podium by Australia.

‘We went for a win. If we had just
wanted silver we could have rowed a different race,’ said Louloudis, who
made the boat despite back problems earlier this summer. ‘In the last
500 metres the mind said yes but the body said no. The legs weren’t
co-operating and I was having to shorten it up.’

He knows he should get another chance
in Rio 2016, as does his equally inconsolable crew-mate Moe Sbihi, and
they were more distraught than the relatively phlegmatic Searle. Perhaps
it is the knowledge of all that pain in store in the future.

Winning feeling: Germany's rowers celebrate after winning the gold medal in the men's eight final

Winning feeling: Germany's rowers celebrate after winning the gold medal in the men's eight final

It also saw Northern Ireland’s Alan
Campbell qualify for the final of the single sculls and an extremely
impressive progression for the youthful men’s pair of Will Satch and
George Nash, who will also be contenders for a medal, although probably
not gold.

Along with the men’s quad it meant
that all 10 of the British crews who have attempted it so far have made
their finals. Although Tanner is loath to get into specific targets, he
did reveal a growing sense of optimism that the next three days will
continue to deliver hardware.

‘We’ve been the second best boat all
summer and bronze does not reflect that. We went for broke,’ said Sbihi,
who carved his own little piece of history by becoming Britain’s first
Muslim to win an Olympic rowing medal.

The British performance director,
David Tanner, again pronounced himself pleased with the day, especially
as the vision he has harboured since Atlanta 1996 for Britain to produce
a women’s gold had finally become reality.

Just pipped: Germany win ahead of Canada and Great Britain

Just pipped: Germany win ahead of Canada and Great Britain

‘Two medals and 10 finals is at the
very top end of my expectations,’ he said. Today’s three finals could
produce two more medals, with a genuine chance of gold for the fancied
lightweight men’s four, although it is a notoriously unpredictable
class. The men’s double of Bill Lucas and Sam Townsend are a less
certain shot to get on the podium, and the women’s eight will have to
show unforeseen form to make an impression.

There will also be the
hugely-anticipated clash between the British and Australian men’s fours,
although only in the semi-final, with their last showdown due on
Saturday.

London 2012 Olympics: Constantine Louloudis leads men"s eight

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Loulou is the stroke of genius we need: Youngster poised to lead eights

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UPDATED:

01:57 GMT, 28 July 2012

Olympics 2012

It is not hard to see why Constantine Louloudis draws comparisons with Sir Matthew Pinsent, and fortunately the parallels extend beyond the fact that they were educated at Eton.

The pair earned places at Oxford, where they became established as international oarsmen. There is even a Greek connection: Pinsent’s wife is from Greece, the homeland of Louloudis’s father.

At just 20, Louloudis will stroke the GB men’s eight, and head coach Jurgen Grobler has given him such a vital role despite having missed all three of the pre-Olympic World Cups with a bad back. A disappointing bronze at the last, in Munich, was enough to convince selectors he is worth the risk.

Young shoulders: Brits Constantine Louloudis (left) and George Nash

Young shoulders: Brits Constantine Louloudis (left) and George Nash

His mother Madeleine is a part-time lady-in-waiting to one of the most famous Olympians of all, Princess Anne. Much has been made of this in Louloudis’s rapid ascent, for which he was on course since stroking an Eton eight in consecutive years to the ‘Triple Crown’ of schools rowing: Henley, the National Schools’ Regatta and the Schools’ Head. But he has barely spoken to his mother’s employer about the pressures of Olympic competition.

‘The closest I have got to discussing it with her was when she came to Henley,’ says Louloudis. ‘I think my mother might have steered her towards us. But it’s not that she pops round for tea.’

Before those who applauded Trenton Oldfield’s Boat Race stunt start foaming at the mouth, GB’s eight, contenders behind Germany for gold, are an eclectic bunch that defy stereotyping.

In time: Great Britain's men's eight prepare for the London Olympics

In time: Great Britain's men's eight prepare for the London Olympics

Included is Moe Sbihi, the country’s first Muslim international rower, and Greg Searle, who won a medal at the 1992 Games. Cox Phelan Hill is an adviser at the Treasury.

Grobler was impressed by Louloudis’s temperament — ‘he can handle the pressure’.

Without a hint of arrogance Louloudis says: ‘Achieving what I did (he and George Nash romped to the world Under 23 Pairs title last year) means I know how to win races and I know the Eton lake, every inch of it. I haven’t raced against the Germans before this summer so maybe I don’t have the same respect for them as the others.’

London 2012 Olympics: GB rowers suit up for dress rehearsals

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Savile rowers! GB crews suit up for their dress rehearsals

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UPDATED:

09:15 GMT, 4 May 2012

The Great Britain rowing squad hailed ‘the world’s best’ by Sir Matthew Pinsent finally gets the chance over the next three days to show why they have such rich potential for glory in this Summer’s Olympics.

While the country has been dazzled by the recent feats of its cyclists the rowers – expected to vie with them as the richest source of home medals at London 2012 – have had to wait until now to show what the fuss is about.

Sitting pretty (right to left): Caroline O'Connor (cox), Dan Ritchie, Vicky Thornley, Cameron Nichol, Jessica Eddie, Greg Searle, Louisa Reeve, James Foad, Natasha Page

Sitting pretty (right to left): Caroline
O'Connor (cox), Dan Ritchie, Vicky Thornley, Cameron Nichol, Jessica Eddie, Greg Searle, Louisa Reeve, James Foad, Natasha Page

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A squad of 57 have descended on Belgrade
for the first of three World Cup regattas winding up towards what will
be the biggest moment of their careers, on the lake at Eton Dorney in
three months’ time.

The British crews will be desperate to
make an early statement of intent, particularly the three who begin the
season as most observers’ favourites for gold. They are led by
Britain’s so-called flagship boat, the reshuffled men’s Four of Andy
Triggs-Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory.

The two others seemingly in pole
position are the women’s Double Scull of Katherine Grainger and Anna
Watkins and reigning Olympic champions Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase in
the lightweight men’s Double.

The fields are strong, although in
certain events medal contenders are absent with the Australians and New
Zealanders notably holding themselves back for the remaining two Cups in
Munich and Lucerne.

GB Performance Director David Tanner
is confident that his team can give their rivals a warning of what is to
come: 'I expect us to show strongly in Belgrade,' he said. 'There is a
strong Chinese entry and most of our top European opponents are here,
which means we will get some high class racing.

Dressed to thrill: The team step out of the boat for the Sportsmail cameras

Dressed to thrill: The team step out of the boat for the Sportsmail cameras

We know that we will be the subject of
intense scrutiny going into our home Games but we should remember that
this is a staging post as well as an important event in its own right.
We want to win medals but also learn everything we can about ourselves
and the opposition.'

One of the most anticipated clashes
should be between the GB men’s Eight – reckoned to have gone very
promisingly in Winter training – and their main rivals Germany. The
British crew have been hit by the precautionary withdrawal of 20
year-old Stroke Constantine Louloudis with a back injury, who is
replaced by Nathaniel Reilly O’ Donnell.

That has led to some changes in seat order, with Matt Langridge, imported from the Four, taking over the Stroke duties.

Other medal contenders sure to attract
attention include Northern Ireland’s Alan Campbell in the Single Scull,
and the highly-regarded Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the
women’s Pair.

Over 1,200 elite British athletes, including the British rowing team, benefit from National Lottery funding, supporting them for London 2012. Lottery players are also investing in London 2012 venues, infrastructure and art and cultural events www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

London 2012 Olympics: Greg Searle set for return

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Searle's gunning for Olympic gold again at 40 after being named in World Cup boat

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UPDATED:

08:52 GMT, 5 April 2012

Constantine Louloudis was not out of nappies when Greg Searle won his coxed pairs gold medal at the 1992 Olympics, but now the two of them are set to be united in the British eight for this summer’s Games.

Searle, who just turned 40, was confirmed in the No 6 position as part of the line-ups for the World Cups, which precede the Games. And he will be sitting behind the precociously talented Louloudis, 20, who has the huge responsibility of the stroke seat.

With the notable exception of the men’s four, for which a final decision on the exact make-up has been deferred, the crews named for the World Cup opener early next month in Belgrade are broadly those planned to take the starting line at Eton Dorney in the Olympics.

Life begins at 40: Greg Searle is set to feature at the London Olympics

Life begins at 40: Greg Searle is set to feature at the London Olympics

That means Searle will be attempting to become the country’s oldest rowing gold medallist since 1908, trying to add to the gold he won with brother Jonny two decades ago.

‘Jurgen Grobler (head coach) has always made it clear that nobody is too young or too old,’ said Searle, who retired after Sydney 2000 but returned in 2010.

He admits that booking a place in the eight — second favourites behind Germany for gold — has been hard not just physically but also on his family life. ‘On my 40th birthday I didn’t see the kids or open any cards when I got up because I had to be training,’ he said.

‘My eight year-old son wants me to play football with him, but I don’t want to risk my back and I don’t want to hurt my finger catching a cricket ball.
‘He wants me to be a normal dad but that is difficult.

Young gun: Constantine Louloudis is also likely to feature at the Games

Young gun: Constantine Louloudis is also likely to feature at the Games

‘I had a few troubles with my back in January but I’ve worked hard and feel I’ve become a solid No 6.’

The final line-up of the British Olympic boats will not become official until June 6, but Beijing gold medallists Pete Reed and Andy Triggs. Hodge will certainly be in the four alongside Alex Gregory, with the last seat to be decided between Tom James and Alex Partridge.

The delay has been caused by the discovery of a treatable heart irregularity in James before Christmas and a bout of illness among the rest of the crew over the past fortnight, which made testing impossible.

The definitive selection for GB’s flagship boat, with the odd man out going into the eight, should be made in around two weeks’ time. Whatever the outcome, performance director David Tanner expects a strong team showing, saying: ‘We aim to be the leading rowing nation in the world.’