Olympic dream still alive for Graeme

14 Mar 2012

University of Manchester rower Graeme Thomas has emerged as a late contender for the 2012 Olympics after an impressive performance at the GB rowing trials alongside established medal hopes from the North West.

Graeme finished fifth in the men’s single scull final and now faces further testing before the crews for the first World Cup event of the 2012 season are announced in April, with seven places up for grabs in the men’s sculling squad.

23-year-old Graeme caught the eye immediately by finishing third in his heat on Saturday, ahead of GB squad member Charles Cousins, and then produced the giant-killing performance of the day, winning his repechage in front of another member of last season’s GB quadruple scull, Tom Solesbury.

The third-year Biomedical Sciences student from Preston is part of GB Rowing’s START talent identification and development programme at Agecroft Rowing Club and was invited to take part in the final senior trials after shining in earlier tests.

Graeme was joined at the trials by another University of Manchester student, 21-year-old Zak Lee-Green, who finished eighth overall in the 1900m time trial.

Zak, a third-year Dentistry student from Cardiff, said: “Overall it was a great experience to go out and race against some of the best British athletes. I know what I need to work on and can gauge what speeds I need to produce in order to be competing for a podium place at similar trials and international events.

“In terms of London 2012 I'll be a spectator of the rowing as opposed to a competitor and so for me the seasons target is the U23 World Championships in July.”