Redgrave: Welsh rowers will make Olympic team

Five times Olympic gold medal winning rower Sir Steve Redgrave says all three of Wales' Olympic rowing hopefuls will be named in the GB squad for the games, baring injury.

Tom James, Vicky Thornley and Chris Bartley, who all hail from Wrexham, have been named in Great Britain's first two World Cup squads of the season, with Thornley and James winning bronze and gold respectively the opening regatta of the season in Belgrade.

And Olympic legend Redgrave believes that has now pushed them to the front of coach Jurgen Grobler's plans ahead of London.

"I think almost their selection has been rubber stamped.

"They've got one more international weekend after this one, in three weeks time, and the team will be announced after that.

"All three of them will be on the team."

Tom James looks Wales' most likely medal winner this summer after regaining his place in the marquee crew, and defending Olympic championship winning boat, the men's coxless four.

James' crew laid down a magnificent marker of their intent yesterday as they set a new world record of 5:37:86 on their way to winning their heat in the second of this season's World Cups in Lucerne, Switzerland.

"We set out to win our heat and we didn’t want to hide away from hard work, even in a heat, if it gave us speed" said James after the race.

“The World Best Time is nice but we’re here to beat people and to put in that kind of performance consistently”. Australia also looked fast in winning the opposing heat."