91��ɫ

Foad plays the waiting game

2012 Olympic bronze medallist and four-times World Silver medallist, James Foad, may still step back from his rowing career after Rio but only time and his body will tell

2012 Olympic bronze medallist and four-times World Silver medallist, James Foad, may still step back from his rowing career after Rio but only time and his body will tell.

 

The 28 year old former insurance worker who came to prominence in the men’s eight at the 2010 World Championships, winning the first of two World silvers in this boat category there, undergoes back surgery today.

 

Foad, from Southampton, knows that he would need to make remarkable progress in order to reach Rio and the odds are now weighted towards missing the season entirely.

 

Foad said in an emotional blog last week:  “The thought of this year being a write-off and not being able to at least try and complete my goal of competing at the Olympics again is heartbreaking.

 

“As for the future, I’m not really sure what the plan is now. I had planned to retire after Rio, but the whole situation has thrown a spanner in the works.

 

“At the minute, it doesn’t feel satisfying walking away from it like this, but I’ll have to see how things go after surgery.”

 

Foad, father of one, had teamed up in the past two seasons in a successful men’s pair partnership with Matt Langridge, winning World silver twice behind one of the world’s stand-out crews from New Zealand.

 

Phelan Hill, cox to the GB Rowing Team men’s eight, summed up the feeling in the men’s squad when he described Foad’s injury news as a “massive loss to our team…awesome rower, great guy.”

 

Alex Gregory, 2012 Olympic Champion described Foad’s absence from Rio as a “big blow” and “heart-breaking.”

 

Sir David Tanner, 91��ɫ’s Performance Director, said:  “James has been an exceptionally dedicated athlete in our team. I remember as far back as his junior days and he has always had a great attitude to his sport. He has made absolutely the best of his attributes. I am very disappointed that he won’t be able to race in Rio.”