Times Globe - Thursday, September 21, 2000

When the phone rings this close to the semi-finals, out of habit I expect the worst. Things had been going too well.

The lightweight four's performance in their heat put them in good stead for the semis, drawing only one sure medal con tender - the Italians - in the six- boat field. Jon Beare's rib hasn't given him trouble in months. The physiotherapy has worked on Iain Brambell's nagging hip flexors.

Gavin Hassett's been healthy and shown tremendous composure since losing his youngest brother two months ago. All that's left is two-seat Chris Davidson with his squirly gut, but the stress hasn't got to him enough to send him to the emergency room like it has in the past.

Until last night. Which is why the phone rang this morning at 7 a m.

Chris's stress-linked stomach problems started late Wednesday, even though the lightweight four, poised to make Sunday's final, is emerging as Canada's best shot at a gold medal.

I'm the portside alternate for Chris. If anything happens to him up to one hour before the race, I go in.

I'm no Tanya Harding and there's no one who deserves to row in the Olympic final more than Chris.

Fortunately, these were smaller versions of the spasms that had crippled him before a crucial time trial last summer. He rebounded after a sleepless night and made it out for one last paddle before today's semi-final contest, where only the top three will advance to the finals.

Without a doubt, this is the most important race the four will face this season. I feel like I've dodged a bullet. Volker's call reminded me that we're not out of the woods yet.

He believes making an 11th-hour seating change in the boat won't kill their shot at a medal and he's asking us to keep focused on the small details over the next three days.

That means keeping to within one kilogram of the required 70-kilo crew average and maintaining the same steep schedules as the guys in the boat.

To make time for the 45-minute commute from the Athletes' Village to the Olympic rowing venue, they'll be getting up at 5a.m.

We're far removed from the pressure our four is dealing with back in the village. Through the fourth full day of rowing, the Canadian rowing team hasn't lived up to expectations.

Single sculler Derek Porter will be the only heavyweight representative in the weekend finals. The men's eight went down in the repechage against the U.S. and Romania and South Africa claimed the third and final qualifying spot over Canada in the semi-finals, of the men's pairs.

Our women's program is usually a lock for a few medals, but nothing's coming easy here in Sydney.

Even the reigning world champions Theresa Luke and Emma Robinson had to take the long way through the reps to get into the finals.

But with the lightweight four, even a mediocre performance in the semis should get them into the final.

It's looking like it's their race to lose and with that comes an unusual brand of pressure.

It's enough to make your stomach turn.