Olympics-Rowing-China and Waddell to light up Beijing Games

By Kate Holton

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - A 42-year-old Australian, a rower-turned-sailor-turned-rower from New Zealand and the Chinese squad are likely to make the headlines at the Olympic rowing regatta in Beijing. China has won only two Olympic silvers and two bronzes since the sport was introduced in 1900 but start their home Games as genuine medal contenders in at least eight of the 14 events after an impressive World Cup season.

The squad looks particularly strong in the women's categories, including the single, double, pair and quad, and the men's lightweight four while it could also pick up medals in both eight races.

The individual stories of the Games are likely to revolve around Australia's James Tomkins, New Zealand's Rob Waddell and Germany's answer to Steve Redgrave -- four times Olympic gold medallist Kathrin Boron.

Tomkins will line up in the men's eight in the hunt for a fourth Olympic gold and fifth Olympic medal in total.

The seven times world champion won gold in Athens in the pair's with Drew Ginn. Ginn had to pull out of the event in Sydney with a back injury, leaving Tomkins to compete in a boat named in his friend's honour.

The Australian boat eight won the first World Cup race this year but finished fourth in the second behind Canadian and Chinese crews.

On paper, Waddell's target looks more modest -- competing for his second gold medal after winning the single in Sydney -- but it is the New Zealander's build-up to the Games that has caught the imagination of the rowing world.

The 33-year-old returned to a hero's welcome after his come-from-behind victory in Sydney and then decided to take seven years out of the sport, crewing for Team New Zealand in the America's Cup and playing rugby for a provincial side.

The desire to return to the Olympics was always there and he made a quiet return to the sport at the end of last year.

The decision, while welcomed by Rowing New Zealand, caused a problem because Waddell would have to compete against compatriot Mahe Drysdale who had become the three times single sculling world champion in Waddell's absence.

The competition captivated the New Zealand public, with spectators and the media allowed to attend the trials.

DRAMATIC FINALE

Drysdale won the first race before Waddell evened the contest, setting up a showdown on Lake Karapiro which was broadcast live on television.

But the dramatic finale failed to materialise after Waddell suffered the recurrence of an irregular heartbeat, leaving Drysdale to coast to a comfortable victory.