Drysdale to row for Fiji?
Mahe Drysdale says he could row for Fiji this year in an attempt to later defend his Olympic gold medals.
The 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games gold medallist in the men’s single sculls missed out on that seat to Robbie Manson this week in the New Zealand team to attend the 2019 World Cup events in Europe later this year and the world championships in Austria.
However, Drysdale still wants the New Zealand single scull spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and may push to get World Cup races this year with another country.
‘‘There’s nothing stopping me going and joining a club in Fiji and getting the Fijian Rowing Federation to OK my entry for the World Cups . . . that’s just the way the World Cups work,’’ Drysdale told Radio New Zealand. ‘‘They are open to any athlete that’s a member for a club in that country.’’
World Cup regattas allow more than one athlete from a country to compete in the same event – Manson and Drysdale both represented New Zealand last year – but the Olympics and world championships allow only one entry per nation. It appears unlikely Rowing NZ will enter Drysdale in the single scull for the World Cups.
‘‘It’s certainly something that I don’t want to do but is something that I’d have to look at if it all turns to custard,’’ the 40-year-old said of the alternative plan.