Come on Aussie, Come on!

How frustrating! Imagine training your ass off for 10 years to make it to the Olympic Games, only to have a hardware malfunction ruin your first opportunity.

Yesterday that happened to Chappo, my old school mate who’s rowing for Australia in Beijing at the moment. The Men’s VIII was struck with a faulty rudder and at the 750 mark (of a 2,000 metre race) essentially had to stop rowing, missing out on the direct route to the finals.

The good news is that they kept rowing and finished the race, meaning that they qualify for the repecharge today and can still make the finals. Needless to say, we’re all rooting for you Chappo, you big spader.

UPDATE: The Men’s VIII came in second in the repecharge, making it through to the final. Go for Gold Chappo!

UPDATE II: The boys came last in the final – Still stoked you made it that far Chappo, See you in 2012!

Go Chappo!

At 7:40pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Sunday 10 August 2008, an old school friend of mine by the name of James Chapman will be rowing for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.

A long time ago, in what seems like a different life, I used to row with James. While part of me wonders what could have happened if I wasn’t such a lazy bastard, most of me just hopes that Chappo can bring home some gold. While I haven’t seen him for a few years, I know that in the 10 years since we finished school, he has sacrificed so much for his sport – I hope he can reap the rewards tomorrow.

ABC News has an interview with James here. And Chappo’s blogging about his Olympic experience here. Go and check it out!

Go Chappo!