There was bitter disappointment for George Bourne at the recent World Rowing Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne.
The meeting represented the last chance for the Hauxton-raised rower to book himself a place in the Team GB squad for August’s Olympic Games in Paris.
However, it was not to be as the 26-year-old came up short at the final hurdle in the Men’s Single Sculls.
The event started brightly for Bourne, who won his heat and the quarter-final before finishing a close second in the semi-final. That saw him progress through to the A final, but a fifth-placed finish dashed his Paris dreams.
Bourne said: “It’s gutting that it just didn’t go to plan. That’s racing and I just need to pick myself up.
“If I look at the big picture, I’m proud of myself and have believed in myself the whole way through but sometimes that’s just life.
“You can only do your best and that’s what I’ve tried to do the last few days.”
British Rowing’s director of performance Louise Kingsley added: “The Final Olympic Qualification Regatta is always a big test.
“All credit to George, he went out and gave it all he could but it just wasn’t to be.”
