YOG 2010: Jopling out to continue GB's Olympic rowing success

From Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

ROWER Caspar Jopling's namesake might be a friendly ghost but he insists he'll be all business at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore next week.

OAR-SOME: Caspar Jopling will be looking to continue Great Britain's rowing success at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore

The 18-year-old oarsman will team up with Ed Nainby-Luxmoore at the Youth Olympic Games, intent on continuing Great Britain's fine five-ringed rowing heritage.

Jopling and Nainby-Luxmoore have already tasted considerable success this season, having been two members of the coxless four that won silver at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic.

And whereas Jopling is accustomed to competing over 2000m, the British pair will take to the Singapore waters in a relative sprint over just 1000m.

But with the curtain set to be raised on the first ever Youth Olympic Games this weekend, Jopling is adamant he and Nainby-Luxmoore will not let down their senior counterparts - who topped the Beijing 2008 medals table with two golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

"The course is shorter which should work in our favour as we are bigger, bulkier rowers than most others," said Jopling.

"So nobody really knows what to expect and I don't know what the competition's going to be like, but we're feeling pretty good.

"All I can say is that we're feeling very strong and in very good form, so we'll definitely be up there.

"There will undoubtedly be some very high-class rowers there though, because it's a hugely prestigious event.

"I don't feel any extra pressure with Britain being so good at rowing already. If anything it gives us more confidence that everybody else knows we're going to be really strong so it think it works in our favour."

Jopling, who has just left Eton College - just a stone's throw away from the lake that will stage the London 2012 rowing competition -, has already earned his GB stripes and his trip to the Czech Republic earlier this season was not his first to the World Junior Championships.

But while London 2012 may came a touch too soon for Jopling, he is keeping his fingers crossed his Olympic trip to Singapore will not be his last.

"It's a real privilege representing team GB as always, and I'm looking forward to it," he added.

"I've done two junior world championships already so I'm looking forward to stepping it up at these Youth Olympic Games at eventually, hopefully, 2016 Olympics too."

 Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games.  Visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012