Gold medal hopeful Kim Brennan driven by the memory of former teammate, the late Sarah Tait

KIM Brennan, Australia’s shortest-priced favourite to bring home individual gold, is being powered by the spirit of dear friend and former teammate, the late Sarah Tait.

Kim Brennan says the passing of former teammate Sarah Tait is still very raw.

AS if Kim Brennan, the world’s best single scull, wasn’t already driven enough.

Brennan is also being powered to win rowing gold in Rio by the spirit of dear friend and former teammate, the late Sarah Tait.

Considered the Australian Olympic team’s shortest-priced favourite to bring home individual gold from the Games, Brennan has also revealed how she is still struggling to come to terms with Tait’s passing.

Tait, a mother of two who captained the Australian women’s rowing team at the Beijing and London Olympics, died in March, aged 33, after a three-year battle with cervical cancer.

“It’s was incredibly tough,’’ an emotional Brennan told News Corp.

Kim Brennan says the passing of former teammate Sarah Tait is still very raw.

“It is a very hard thing to get your head around. Someone who was at the absolute peak of fitness and health to be gone so soon after.

“It’s been said a lot but it cannot be said enough she was an absolutely incredible person.

“Even weeks before she passed away she was still contributing to our athletes commission, very much had her finger on the pulse.

“She was someone we all looked up to her. She is very much in our thoughts.’’

Brennan said the notion of dedicating her Olympic medal race next week didn’t seem just.

“Sarah has contributed a lot to who we are as people and how the team functions as a unit,’’ Brennan said.

“I find it difficult to contemplate dedicating a race to Sarah because I don’t think I could do justice to what she has given to this sport.

“How special she has been I found that a bar which is much to high for me to fulfil. Her memory is still very fresh.

“She was incredible. You would have had no idea from how sick she was from how bravely she conducted herself.’’

Despite a celebrated rivalry with New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, who is undoubtedly Brennan’s No.1 rival on the Lagoa Olympic rowing course in Rio, the determined Australian hasn’t been beaten since 2014 – or so we thought.

Sarah Tait, right, won silver in London. Picture: supplied

“A few people have been saying that and I just have to clarify that I’ve raced the boys a few times and they definitely beat me,’’ Brennan smiled.

“But no, I’m not feeling the pressure too much.

“I’ve had a good preparation and I’m confident with how things are going and just really looking forward to getting out there and have a race.’’

A composed and confident individual, Brennan also played down any fears over the water quality issues which has stymied the lead-up to the games.

“I’ve been really impressed with the water conditions,’’ Brennan said.

“I actually trained here a couple of years ago and I didn’t get sick then, but the water quality definitely looks a lot clearer now.’’

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Originally published as Gold medal hopeful Kim Brennan driven by the memory of former teammate, the late Sarah Tait