Australia’s women’s rowers say Sarah Tait’s spirit will live on with them as they compete in Rio
AUSTRALIA’S miracle Olympians say the spirit of rowing legend Sarah Tait will live on in the women’s eight boat at the Rio rowing regatta.
AUSTRALIA’S miracle Olympians say the spirit of rowing legend Sarah Tait will live on in the women’s eight boat at the Rio rowing regatta.
London silver medallist Tait lost her battle with cancer in March at just 33 in a setback that rocked the Australian rowing establishment.
She had been a member of the infamous 2004 women’s eight team involved in the Laydown Sally affair before rebounding to qualify the eight at the following Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Her husband Bill Tait has played a key role in bringing together the women’s eight that have been handed extraordinary Olympic qualification.
Rowing’s world governing body FISA threw out the Russian eight that had qualified for Rio, giving the women two weeks to train together after six weeks out of the boat.
They only came together again as a full crew on Sunday and after flying to Rio on August 5 will race their heat on August 8.
London Olympics veteran Alex Hagan said Tait, the Olympic rowing captain in 2008 and 2012, would forever be remembered after her three-year battle with cancer.
First-time Olympian Fiona Albert said Tait’s spirit had lived on as the eight attempted to qualify for Rio.
“The boat we raced in at the Olympic qualification regatta was called ‘The Sarah Tait’ and it has been a huge thing for us,’’ she told the Herald Sun.
“We said when we came down the course it’s not nine of us on board, it’s ten. I was in the bow seat which was a Sarah made her own in other boats and I felt that responsibility.
“She gave so much to the sport in terms of being a massive advocate for female athletes and the women’s sweep.
“She was pushing for opportunities for female athletes to be the best they could be. So we felt that every time we were in training.”
Tait was diagnosed with cancer after the birth of second child Luca in March 2013 and eventually retired from rowing to focus on her cancer fight.
Megan Volker said the importance of upholding her legacy had been stressed to the women’s eight.
“I haven’t had a lot to do with Bill before this but I have known his past and it’s really inspiring to see how he keeps himself up and how he has supported us,’’ she said.
“A lot of the girls were quite close to Bill and Sarah so when we got together as a crew this year we said this is what she would want us to do.
“She would want us to get over and perform at our best no matter what is happening.”’
VIS head rowing coach Tait will remain in Melbourne caring for children Luca and Leila during the Olympics while the women’s eight is coached by Mark Fangen-Hall.
“It’s so important for (Sarah’s) legacy to live on,’’ said 25-year-old Hagan.
“It’s so cool the power that it brings our crew and females in sport.
“We weren’t qualified and then we got a rebirth and here we are in Rio.”
Originally published as Australia’s women’s rowers say Sarah Tait’s spirit will live on with them as they compete in Rio