in 2010 partnering Hayley-Jo Arthur. In 2011 Arthur was swapped with Naydene Smith and they finished 6th at the Bled World Championships. This pair raced together for the next 4 years finishing 6th at each of the next 3 World Championships and 8th at the London Olympics. In 2015 they finally broke their “6th place hoodoo” and went one better, finishing 5th at the Aiguebelette World Championships. In 2016 a new partnership was formed with Christowitz with immediate results, winning gold at the Varese World Cup, South Africa’s 1st ever gold medal in this event and their first medal since the 2nd World Cup in 2011. For a new partnership that’s not a bad way to start and for Christowitz, making her senior International debut it was prettyimpressive. At Lucerne they just missed out on the medals but their form this season has shown that they cannot be discounted for a medal although I think they may find the going tough against the British, Kiwis and Americans.

The USA

Felice Mueller 26 & Grace Luczak 27

Olympic record: 2016 Olympic debut

World Championship record

Mueller: 1st W4- 2013, 3rd W4X 2014, 3rd W2- 2015

Luczak: 3rd W4- 2010, 1st W8 2013, 1st W8 2014, 1st W4- 2015

2016 record: 1st W8 Lucerne World Cup, 1st W2- Lucerne World Cup

The USA probably pose the biggest challenge to Great Britain’s chances of retaining their Olympic title in Rio. The selected boat of Mueller and Luczak may be Olympic novices but they have a wealth of international experience. Mueller, a University of Michigan graduate, won