Aussie rower Kim Brennan is “the full package”, says four-time Olympian Drew Ginn

AUSSIE rowing legend Drew Ginn has described gold medal favourite Kim Brennan as “the full package” who will show the world the true champion she really is.

Australia's Kim Brennan after her heat on Day 1 of the Women's Single Scull at Lagoa Stadium.

OARSOME Foursome crew member Drew Ginn has described gold medal favourite Kim Brennan as “the full package” who will show the world the true champion she really is.

On yet another day of high-drama at Rio’s Lagoa rowing course, organisers were forced to abandon Day 2 of racing due to damage to the course caused by heavy crosswinds.

Hundreds of disappointed fans waited for almost two hours before being informed that the entire day’s program was off.

Australia’s only crew due to race, the men’s fours, were rescheduled to compete in their heat overnight (AEST).

The decision by FISA, who described the conditions as “a first for us” was made less than 24-hours after Australia’s Brennan almost sank in her heat, which she finished in a shock third placing.

Australia's Kim Brennan after her heat on Day 1 of the Women's Single Scull at Lagoa Stadium.

Weather permitting, Brennan will race in the quarter-finals tonight from 10pm (Tuesday, AEST).

Ginn, one of Australia’s greatest rowers as a four-time Olympian and three-times gold medallist, wasn’t fazed with Brennan’s heat result, declaring she had all the tools to bounce-back, even if the conditions refuse to relent.

“She’s (Brennan) done a lot of practice in Lake Burly Griffin in Canberra, but coming out of the start and how quickly the conditions changed in her heat, it definitely caught her off guard,’’ said Ginn, who is in Rio as an expert commentator with Channel 7.

“It’s a reality check, but she will respond.

“The question is what the bounce back looks like, it could be a gold medal. It could be a silver medal, a bronze or it could be fighting out tightly to make the final.

“We just don’t know yet.’’

Ginn said the challenge facing Brennan would release the championship qualities which had carried her through unbeaten in the lead-up to the Games.

“The Olympic Games is always the greatest challenge and for Kim, it’s no different,’’ Ginn said.

“She’s been to an Olympic Games where she’s medalled before and one Olympics prior to that, so there is pressure on.

“An athlete would feel more pressure when they know that they’ve had good results and they’re being targeted by everyone else.

“It is a challenge for that reason because it’s once every four years.

“She’s put a lot of pressure on herself to be a gold medallist and she wants to be an Olympic champion – she’s made no bones about that.

“But I’m very confident. She’s the full package.’’

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Originally published as Aussie rower Kim Brennan is “the full package”, says four-time Olympian Drew Ginn