Well done Giacomo Thomas
August 18, 2009
Article and photo from the Hawke’s Bay Today:
A bronze medal at his first world championship has made Hawke’s Bay rower Giacomo Thomas hungry for more international success.
“I’ll probably trial for another New Zealand team next year or the year after. My main priority is to catch up with some sleep now and I’ll be back on the water again within a week,” said Thomas after returning from the Under-19 World Championships in France last week.
Thomas, 17, was the sole Hawke’s Bay rower in the New Zealand under-19 quad which finished third. It was the first time New Zealand had competed in this event at world level.
“We were happy with the end result after our four races _ one each day during the regatta. Just four seconds separated all the teams which qualified for the A final,” Thomas said.
Because the other three crew members were from the South Island, Thomas said it was unlikely they would be together again until they reached the under-23 ranks.
“It would be good to row with them again and Mike Rodger was a good coach,” said the Havelock North High School student.
The team spent nine weeks together at St Peter’s College, Cambridge, while they trained at Lake Karapiro before heading to France so they all established a good rapport with one another.
“This was reflected in our performances on the water,” said Thomas.
The third-season rower was worried about his limited knowledge of the French language beforethe trip.
However, he was thrilled to report he managed to get by with a couple of phrases: bonjour (greetings) and merci (thank you).
Thomas’ world championship bronze has been added to a rowing CV which includes a third in the open schoolboys’ singles event at the Queensland state championships last September, a win in the single scull at the April Maadi Cup regatta and a national club four win with clubmates Daniel Kittow, Charlie McLeod, Jack Barr and coxswain Zac Simmons.
Closer to the start of the 2009-10 season in October, Thomas will sit down with his Bay coach, Don McDonald, to plan his season.
He said it was likely to include under-21 events.
His Hawke’s Bay clubmate Rohan Condon coached the Kiwi women’s under-19 quad which finished sixth at the same regatta.
