Team GB’s next generation backed to continue golden rowing legacy

Mohamed Sbihi was part of the quartet which sealed Britain’s fifth consecutive men’s coxless four gold in Rio but returns this summer as the sole member of the men’s squad with Olympic experience

Britain's Mohamed Sbihi, Alex Gregory, Constantine Louloudis and George Nash (AFP via Getty Images)

Mohamed Sbihi believes Team GB’s youthful rowers will cope with the weight of expectation in Tokyo and write their own chapter in a storied Olympic tale.

Sbihi was part of the quartet which sealed Britain’s fifth consecutive men’s coxless four gold in Rio and is set to arrive at the re-arranged Games this summer as the sole member of the men’s squad with Olympic experience.

Having soaked up knowledge from illustrious names of yesteryear on his journey through the ranks, the 32-year-old has challenged his crewmates to embrace the history as they look to continue a remarkable gold rush.

“You are looking after a seat on the boat and the legacy of it, trying to leave it in a better place than where you picked it up,” said Sbihi, who is working with Purplebricks to encourage the nation to get behind Team GB on their journey to Tokyo.

“I used to look up to Hodgey (Andrew Triggs Hodge), Pete Reed, Alex Gregory, James Cracknell, Matt Pinsent – they are born winners.

“Whoever races in the four should respect the legacy without feeling hindered by it. We just have to go and write our own chapter in that epic story.”

Sbihi’s Olympic journey began with a bronze medal in the eight at London 2012 and a switch to the coxless four ramped up the pressure in Rio – where the relaxed influence of Alex Gregory provided a template from which to work.

“For most of our sessions in Rio, I wasn’t happy with how we were rowing,” he said. “But that’s tension, nerves, everything rolled into one.

“Alex was always calm and said when we need to turn it on and race, that’s when we’ll click.

“Just because it doesn’t feel nice in between races doesn’t mean our speed or the work we’ve put in has been lost. It’s there, it’s just waiting to come out in the racing scenario.

“Alex really came into his own in Rio and hopefully I can do the same in Tokyo.”

While the retirements of his Rio crewmates came shortly after their shared triumph, giving Sbihi time to adapt, the departure of influential coach Jurgen Grobler last summer came as more of a jolt. The German oversaw a transformation of British rowing during his 28 years the helm – a reign that draws comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson which keen football fan Sbihi is only too happy to indulge.

“I totally see it,” he said. “They were both incredibly successful no matter how good the teams were.

“He (Ferguson) had some exceptional teams but also teams without star players who won the Premier League by 10 or 15 points.

“Some of the boys have read Alex Ferguson’s book – you could change the names from Ferguson and Manchester United to Jurgen Grobler and British Rowing and it would read so true.

“I’m an Arsenal fan, so I don’t like comparisons with United, but I’m now at the stage where I’m a (Ryan) Giggs – getting towards the end but still able to perform when needed.”

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Steve Trapmore, a gold medallist in Sydney, has been tasked with guiding the men’s sweep squads towards Tokyo and there is no hint of the 45-year-old being the David Moyes to Grobler’s Ferguson.

In Sbihi, he has inherited an athlete who has benefited from the Games being pushed back and is now relishing every moment as he looks for a fitting finale to a glittering career.

“I am very confident we will use the experience we’ve gained under Jurgen and the fresh energy under Steve to our advantage,” he said.

“The postponement was a blessing. This time last year, I was right up against it in terms of even getting into the team.

“I was very lucky it was only pushed back for a year and I feel I’ve just got stronger. These are rowing strokes I shouldn’t be taking right now but I am loving it.”

Moe Sbihi, is working with Purplebricks to encourage the nation to get behind Team GB on their journey to Tokyo, with the same amazing home support as London 2012. Visit @PurplebricksUK. To enter the draw to receive one of 2,020 limited edition prints, visit https://page.purplebricks.co.uk/teamgb_homesupport/