Harrison Nichols, Rowing Australia's youngest team member

The Maitland Mercury

Harrison Nichols, 17, has sights set on Paris Paralympics

Transcript

00:00 We went over to Italy for a few weeks training together

00:03 'cause the crew we rode with, we hadn't rode together

00:05 really since trials earlier this year.

00:07 So it's good to jump back in the crew with each other

00:09 and get to know each other and row with each other

00:12 a bit better and that set us up for the races

00:14 that we went over to Belgrade after the three weeks.

00:17 So it was lovely, went over, went for a week,

00:20 was just get like training on the course,

00:22 getting used to it and then had heats on the Monday,

00:25 I think it was the, I mean the fifth, I think.

00:29 And it was, I don't think we're very happy with that race,

00:32 weren't rowing too well but then we came out afterwards,

00:35 it was a lot better, we like got our stuff together

00:38 afterwards, made some changes and rode a lot better

00:42 afterwards so I was happy with the record charge

00:43 which we came through and won and got a sub seven time

00:46 which was one of our goals, it wasn't the goal

00:49 but pretty like something we wanted to do

00:52 and then we had the final on the Saturday

00:55 which like we did all right, like I reckon we all rode

00:59 the best we could.

01:00 It was the first like K or so, we got knocked around

01:03 by the wind and even the third 500 in the 2K

01:05 was a bit dodgy but the last 500 we really brought it

01:08 together, found a rhythm and just rode through.

01:11 Been thrown together every like, yeah,

01:13 three or four weeks before we started racing

01:15 so to get close to where we got or like to do what we do

01:19 I think was pretty impressive and a testament

01:20 to the coaches, support staff and the athletes

01:22 and their commitment to just get things done

01:25 and just push on with it which, you know,

01:27 it'll be good and hopefully like, got trials and stuff,

01:30 goodbye for a seat in that boat and then hopefully

01:32 go down to Canberra and just row together,

01:34 like just get comfortable with each other

01:36 and hopefully maybe get a medal for Paris.

01:40 So we've qualified the PR34 so the boat is going.

01:44 The four athletes that are in it, we're not too sure yet,

01:47 we have a few trials and all these kind of things

01:50 that we've got to get through and of course

01:51 the coaches will decide from there so,

01:53 which all I can do from there is like, just row my best so.

01:57 - At 17, do you pinch yourself to think that

02:00 what am I, what's happening here?

02:02 - Well if you told me five years ago I was doing this,

02:04 I wouldn't believe you.

02:05 Like, or even two years ago, like,

02:09 less, well just over 12 months ago I was sitting

02:11 in a hospital bed recovering from a reconstructive surgery

02:13 and to be out doing this, like obviously successful

02:17 season last season with States and Nationals as well,

02:20 came away with some gold medals which I was pleased with

02:23 So, but yeah, it's pretty amazing.

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