Men’s and women’s race updates from 2.21pm BST
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The women’s crews are in position, side-by-side on the water. Our skipper says there has been clearance for the race to start on time, so we should be off in about five minutes. Someone alongside me in the boat, who has forgotten more about rowing than I know, says: “I really think Oxford could do it …”
As the TV coverage focuses on Heidi Long, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics, here’s what she had to say to Luke, speaking movingly about her late father.
I’d get in the car sometimes and he’d be like: ‘How was rowing?’ and I’d just give a two-word answer, probably like most teenagers. And honestly right now, what I would do for him to just pick me up, and just chat about rowing.
I love being able to talk about him because he was such an incredible man. So much positive energy. He cared about so many people and he fought so hard through his disease. I can do 10 more strokes in a rowing race. That’s nothing compared to what he did.