Waddell extra competition for Cohen

Nathan Cohen's Olympic aspirations could face a large speed bump in the form of former Olympic gold medallist Rob Waddell.

Waddell is back training with the Rowing New Zealand summer squad, putting his commitments as a grinder with the Team New Zealand yachting syndicate to one side in an attempt to reignite his rowing career. His return to competitive rowing comes just five months out from the announcement of the New Zealand rowing team for the Beijing Olympics in August next year.

It was in the single where Waddell previously made his mark, which included being named New Zealand sportsperson of the year three times.

With Rowing NZ also having three-time single sculls world champion Mahe Drysdale on its books, it is likely to setup a mouth watering challenge between the pair for New Zealand's one spot in the single at the Beijing Olympics.

However, Waddell is keeping his options open and it may well be in the double where the 32-year-old attempts to restart his impressive rowing career.

This would toss up an interesting proposition for Southland rower Cohen and his regular double sculls partner Matthew Trott, who qualified the New Zealand boat for the Beijing Olympics with an encouraging display at the world championships in Munich in August.

If Rowing NZ was to select Waddell in the double sculls, either Cohen or Trott would see their Olympic dream vanish.

Waddell has already lined up with both Cohen and Trott during training in an early test of combinations.

Twenty-one-year-old Cohen said yesterday despite Waddell being taller than him he felt comfortable combining with the former world champion.

Cohen also squared off against Waddell in a single scullsrace on Saturday and the experience of Waddell shone through, with him beating Cohen and Joseph Sullivan, another talented single sculler.

Cohen had not looked at Waddell's return to the sport as a hindrance to his Olympic chances but viewed it as an ideal way to lift the standards within the New Zealand squad.

"It's pretty exciting times," Cohen told The Southland Times yesterday.

"It's good for everyone. Racing will be a lot more competitive and it will lift everyone." The Rowing NZ summer squad will continue to work through combinations until national trials in March, which will ultimately determine who will represent New Zealand at the Beijing Olympics.

The squad also includes Waihopai club member Storm Uru, who is chasing a spot in the light weight double at Beijing.

- © Fairfax NZ News