Ed Grisedale admits he cannot wait to get his own taste of the Olympic atmosphere at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival after watching firsthand Britain’s success at London 2012.
As Britain’s rowers enjoyed their most successful Olympic regatta ever at London 2012, with nine medals including four gold, the 19-year-old was watching on from the Eton Dorney stands.
But now he has a chance to bid for medals himself in Sydney and he insists he doesn’t want to let the opportunity of continuing British Rowing’s success slip through his fingers.
“I managed to watch a few days of the rowing at London 2012 and the atmosphere was amazing and it is pretty cool to know that is what you might be achieving in the future,” said Grisedale, who will compete in the men’s pair and four.
“It is definitely where I want to be and it is really exciting to be part of something like the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and being in a village and the new experiences that brings.
“We have definitely come to Australia to win. I don’t want to come back disappointed. I will do my best and at the end of the day I want to have a medal to show for it.
“It is obviously a very big opportunity for me. There is a lot of prestige involved and a lot of pressure but it is one of the things that goes with the job and I can’t wait.”
Grisedale is no stranger to pulling on British colours, having finished sixth in the double sculls alongside Joe Guppy, who is also in Australia, at the 2011 Junior World Championships.
And Grisedale admits he has no intention of slowing down any time soon.
“I represented Britain in 2011 at the junior worlds and I came sixth in the double scull with Joe, which was a really good event,” he added.
“It’s a bit strange when you first pull on the British vest but it is good and it feels right and like that is what I want to do in the future.
“This summer I am hoping to break into the senior team but obviously it is difficult and I have just started at Oxford Brookes University but this is another good step and a building block towards that.”
© Sportsbeat 2013