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Video: Rower Dan Ritchie
in training for Olympic gold

Two Kent rowers are tantalisingly close to their Olympic dreams
after making Team GB's 2012 World Cup squad.

Dan Ritchie and Tom Ransley both came through a gruelling
selection process, including trials at Eton Dorney – the venue for
the rowing and canoe sprint events during London 2012 – to make the
team.

The pair, who both won silver medals at the World Rowing
Championships last year, will now contest the opening
round of the World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia, from May 4-6.

Success there could secure their place at the Olympics.

Dan, who was born in Margate and grew up in Herne Bay, said: "I
don't take anything for granted but I'm confident in what I've done
and my performances in the past.

"I've done more races than anyone else in the team this Olympiad
and I'm very happy with how I've approached my training, so I'm
confident that I'll be in the boat in London.

"Other people will step their game up though and everyone wants
that seat, so it's a difficult one to hold on to."

Tom, 26, from Ashford, added: "I'm a superstitious person and I
wouldn't want to jinx myself but the squad's in a really good
position and I'm looking forward to the next few weeks.

"London has been my goal for the last few years and it would
mean a great deal to get the call up."

Even after the trials at Eton Dorney next month, chief coach
Jürgen Grobler could still make changes to the squad based on
athletes' performances at the World Rowing Cup, which kicks off in
Belgrade, Serbia, in May.

For Dan, 25, the Olympics would be the culmination of almost a
decade of hard work on the international stage.

His dream was almost shattered by a hamstring injury last
year but intense training – his days begin at 6.30am and are
fuelled by a bowl of up to 10 Weetabix for breakfast – has made him
even hungrier for success.

"I've had to work hard to get to where I am
today," he said.

"The journey's been great and I never dreamed when I was 18 that
I'd get to go to an Olympics.

"To represent the country this summer would be amazing."