British rowers tipped to lead medal table

OLYMPIC gold medallist Greg Searle believes Great Britain's rowers have what it takes to come away with more medals than any other British sport in Beijing.

UK Sport have announced a target of 35 medals from 17 different disciplines in China with cycling and athletics leading the charge with six and five respectively.

Athens silver medallist Katherine Grainger leads the hope for gold alongside Pete Reed, Tom James, Andy Triggs-Hodge and Olympic champion Steve Williams in the coxless four.

Britain's rowers managed only one gold four years ago but Searle - who won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - is confident his predecessors can take the sport to new heights.

 

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"We have four really good shots at getting gold and if all of them were to get a medal we would hit our goal," he said. "The team should have high expectations - they are all very good athletes - and we have stepped up to the competition and raised our game.

"Getting five or six would be awesome and I feel we can do that - there is always an outside chance because we have some great rowers.

"I would like to see medals from all the categories- the heavyweight men should be looking for gold, again despite a the big-name retirements - I think the heavyweight women could produce a gold medal and the lightweight men as well.

"But then there is the women's double, the men's double and the men's single who have all got a shot and you can't rule them out."

RYAN BANGS