Chambers goes for gold

By Gavin Andrews

Richard Chambers is going for gold in Beijing

But in the case of Richard Chambers from Coleraine the Olympic experience will be just that.

Only two years ago he was an under-23 national rower but last year he burst onto the world stage in his first senior year in the sport and stood on the top step of the podium as part of Great Britain's lightweight men's coxless four crew.

Now, at just 23 years of age, he heads to China as one of the favourites for an Olympic Gold Medal.

"It's very surreal. A lot of guys have put more effort and a lot more time into this than I have.

For some, this is their third Olympics, for some it's their second Olympics but it's my first and it's come quite quickly.

This is only my third year of international rowing in the four and I'm just taking it as it comes, just enjoying it yet going out to do the best that I can."

Chambers began his rowing career as a pupil at Coleraine Academical Institution and follows in the footsteps of two fellow Olympians Richard Archibald and Alan Campbell.

Campbell, 25, will represent Great Britain in the mens single scull and 30-year-old Archibald will compete for Ireland in the Lightweight men's four.

Richard is very proud of his roots and his fellow competitors from Coleraine.

"It's pretty spectacular - three boys from the same town are going to the Olympic Games in the same year and in the same event - rowing.

"Two of us are in the same boat class for two different countries. It's amazing how we've all come through the same system with Bobby Platt.

"Now we're going to the Olympic Games to try and achieve something big. You can't really put it into words."

To add some extra spice to this Olympic Regatta for Chambers, he will compete against Archibald, who has had a big influence on his career.

"As soon as I started getting into international rowing and competing a little bit more then I started to know who he was.

"I started to look up to him at the 2004 Olympics and he's the guy you aspired to be like.

"I've the utmost respect for him and he is still the guy I look up to.

"Whenever we go out to race, there's obviously that little bit of rivalry about, but I want to race him for the respect I have for him and the respect I have for his crew."

The Lightweight races should provide some of the tightest results of the Olympic regatta and Chambers is well aware of the challenge.

"In Munich last year, the difference between us winning gold and the Irish not qualifying, coming 12th, was less than five seconds - that's what you're looking at.

To be at the top level you've got to work quite hard for it and you've got to graft and it's the same in technique Richard Chambers

"And even this year, it's a lot tighter, its down to about three seconds.

To win a lightweight event you've got to have a perfect race on the day, some people can get that, some people can't."

In his short meteoric career in the sport Chambers has had to make some extreme sacrifices, training on average six hours a day with only one day off a month.

But the Olympics is worth every hour in the gym and on the water. The sport seems to suit his character.

"I think to be to be an elite sportsman at this level you've got be a grafter, it doesn't come easy to anyone.

"You might have a good physiological basis or you might have a good strength basis but to be at the top level you've got to work quite hard for it and you've got to graft and it's the same in technique.

"You've got to keep plugging away at it, stroke by stroke, outing by outing. We do 15000 strokes a week and you're never going to be perfect at the end of that, so it's hard work."

Chambers is based in Oxford, close to British Rowing's headquarters at Caversham, so the Olympics provides the opportunity of a family reunion.

"Mum, dad my sister Rebecca, who's never actually been to an international rowing event before, my brother Peter, and my girlfriend Abi are all coming out to China to see me.

"I'm looking forward to having them out there, experiencing the Olympic games as a family. Every four years we've sat and watched it on the TV and now as a family we're going to experience it ourselves, it's different, it's an incredible feeling."

An intense character at times, he seems almost forensic about every element of his sport but it's been a difficult season for Chambers and his crew.

They have failed to recapture their world championship form of last season and have been off the pace in the three World Cup regattas in the run up to the games.

But in the last eight weeks nothing has been left to chance and Chambers is ready to grasp the moment.

"For every sportsman who wants to do well they've got to aim right at the top.

"For a footballer it's the World Cup final, for a rower it's got to be the Olympic Games and you've got to aim right at the top and set your goals as high as you can.

"It's six minutes of your life. six minutes of that day and that's nothing in the grand scheme of a 24 hour day, so you get on and do it. It's one of the most painful things you do, some say its worse than child birth, but I don't know. You just got to get on and do it."

Richard Chambers starts his campaign in the heats of the Lightweight men's coxless four on Sunday morning. The build up is over - it's time to make the Olympic dream a reality.