Pinsent hit by 'Cracknell Curse'

By Rob Hodgetts

Pinsent's coxless four were underpowered in Munich

If Matthew Pinsent wins a fourth Olympic rowing gold medal in Athens he will have done it the hard way.

Not that there's an easy way, but Pinsent will have had to conquer more than his fair share of trials on the voyage.

Pinsent's coxless four were once again hit by the "Cracknell Curse" in Munich when they struggled to fifth place in the penultimate World Cup regatta before the Olympics.

His fellow Sydney gold medallist James Cracknell was taken ill on the morning of the race and reserve Tom Stallard was rushed into the crew, alongside Alex Partridge and Steve Williams.

I'm definitely not thinking, 'Oh God, we're not going to win the Olympics' Matthew Pinsent

The team barely had time for introductions before they were beaten by a gaping seven seconds by their biggest rivals, world champions Canada.

"We were third and I thought we were doing ok," said Pinsent.

"Then it all went pear-shaped. That'll be a pretty distant relation to the Olympic four.

"With due respect to Tom Stallard he hasn't got the same power as James."

The four, with Cracknell on board, had recorded the fastest time in their heat on Thursday, and Pinsent insisted the alarm bells were not ringing yet.

"I'm definitely not thinking, 'Oh God, we're not going to win the Olympics', " said Pinsent.

Cracknell also missed the opening World Cup race in Poland in April with a cracked rib, though substitute Ed Coode ensured success in the absence of the Canadians.

The British team have just one more regatta, in Lucerne next month, to test their progress against world-cass opposition - though Canada may be missing - and possibly fire a warning shot across some bows.

It's more frustrating than a blow British performance director David Tanner

Pinsent and Cracknell were half of Sir Steve Redgrave's winning four with Tim Foster in Sydney in 2000 before switching to the pair.

The duo romped to three world titles but a lacklustre 2003 saw coach Jurgen Grobler take the radical decision to move them into the four, alongside Williams and Josh West.

But West was replaced by Partridge as Grobler shuffled his pack, trying to find the magic ingredient, which turned out to be the health of his rowers as first Pinsent fell ill and then Cracknell's body began playing up.

Cracknell has missed the last two World Cup finals

"It's more frustrating than a blow," said British performance director David Tanner.

"We've already shown we're a serious outfit and we have a serious chance in Athens.

"We're very confident we have the right crew."

But the likelihood is they will head to Athens unaware of the full potential of the final crew and its position in the pecking order.

By then Pinsent's dream will have received enough broadsides to sink a battleship, but an acolyte of Mr Redgrave, and a formidable Olympian in his own right, is not likely to give up without mounting a serious assault.

Grobler will name his Olympic squad on 24 June.