Rob's heart-stopper

OLYMPIC rowing gold medallist Rob Waddell, who is recovering after undergoing keyhole surgery at Waikato Hospital, is not sure whether his heart is still in the sport.

Waddell last night said he felt well after the heart surgery but had yet to decide on his future direction.

He is unsure whether he will continue in rowing, yachting or any other sport.

Waddell, 34, said the success of the surgery would allow him to make choices now "without looking over my shoulder, wondering whether it (heart trouble) would strike".

He made it clear the surgery was not undertaken to further his sporting career; it was a lifestyle choice and more related to his enjoying family life as much as anything.

Waddell said he had been considering having the surgery to correct his atrial fibrillation since 2000, the same year he won Olympic gold in the single sculls in Sydney.

Over the years the techniques involved in the surgery had improved and it had become much safer.

In atrial fibrillation, the heartbeat becomes irregular and may become very fast because the normal timer in the heart does not work properly. It can lead to a stroke or, in some cases, death.

Keyhole surgery of the type carried out on Waddell fixes irregular heartbeats by using virtual simulations of the heart to pinpoint targets where small burns help change the muscle's electrical conduction.

Waddell underwent the surgery in Hamilton at the same time as another Olympic rowing gold medallist, Wybo Veldman, a member of New Zealand's victorious eight at the 1972 Olympics.

Veldman's atrial fibrillation surgery was also a success and the pair were neighbours in the cardiac care ward.

New Zealand's only gold medallist at the Sydney Olympics, Waddell did not defend his title at Athens in 2004 because of his heart condition.

He turned to yachting, finding a career as a grinder for Team New Zealand at the America's Cup, before challenging for a rowing berth in the New Zealand team for last year's Olympics in Beijing.

His heart problems resurfaced again during his domestic raceoff against Mahe Drysdale for the New Zealand single sculls spot.

- © Fairfax NZ News