Purchase reaady for gold pursuit (From Evesham Journal)

Purchase reaady for gold pursuit

11:40am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Sport

ZAC Purchase admits it’s the fear of failure that drives him towards defending his Olympic title at London 2012, claiming there will be no silver lining if he misses out on gold.

Purchase, 26, and Mark Hunter arrived at Dorney Lake as the world champions and 2008 Olympic gold medallists but with doubts hanging over their form after an indifferent World Cup season.

But the British rowers romped to victory in their lightweight double sculls heat on Sunday, getting the better of New Zealand’s Storm Uru and Peter Taylor to blast into today’s semifinals.

After finishing fifth and sixth at the last two World Cups of the season, Purchase believes theyhave shaken themselves out of their slumber — because the duo can’t stand being second best.

“We hate losing more than anyone else,” said the former Evesham Rowing Club star from Tewkesbury, who has three world titles to his name.

“We have sent a message of intent to ourselves. We’re aware we have had a terrible season but now we’re a crew to be reckoned with.

“Everyone knows we are capable of rising to the occasion and there is no bigger occasion than the Olympics.”

Purchase added: “We want to go out and produce results we’re proud of, to convince not only us but everyone else they were wrong.

“We want London and the rest of the country to be absolutely buzzing from our success.

“We wanted a hard heat and got that delivered on a plate — the Kiwis are on form.”

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