Reed taking no risks before China

Reed is one of seven rowers from Gloucestershire going to Beijing

Nailworth's Peter Reed says he will not be taking any risks before heading to the Olympics.

Reed is one quarter of the British men's coxless four who are hopeful of success in Beijing.

The 27-year-old told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he is wary of a last-minute mishap.

"It's frightening to think that because of illness and injury you can miss your chance. I'm wrapping myself in cotton wool and not doing anything stupid."

He added: "One of the light-weights in 2004 tripped over and broke their wrist and that was their Olympics over."

Peter Reed is joined in the coxless four for Beijing by Tom James, Steve Williams and Andy Triggs-Hodge.

The quartet claimed gold in the 2007 Rowing World Cup

Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent share four coxless four Olympic golds

Reed is confident that the coxless four can turn their season around after a disappointing performance at the Lucerne World Cup, where the British boat failed to make the final for the first time in 10 years.

"Everybody's racing for their chance to be in the final and if you're not in the final you can't get an Olympic gold medal, so that's fast racing," added Reed.

"Jurgen Grobler [coach] always says in our heats 'go out there, put together a really good performance and then build on from that', so it'll be faster in the semi and faster in the final."