Searle won the second of his Olympic medals in 1996
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Former Olympic champion Greg Searle has set his sights on competing at London 2012, when he will be 40 years old. But he must wait to prove his worth after Saturday's GB Rowing trial in Boston, Lincolnshire was cancelled because of snowy travelling conditions. Searle won gold in Barcelona in 1992 with brother Jonny and cox Garry Herbert, and bronze in a four in 1996. "It's all about being in the Olympic team, marching in the opening ceremony and being a role model," he said. "To be able to do something like this feels like a really exciting adventure."
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I didn't want to row in Beijing but the pull of London was just so strong
Olympic champion Greg Searle
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Searle retired after the 2000 Olympics, when he came agonisingly short of a medal in a pair with Ed Coode, and went on to take part in the America's Cup as a grinder and compete in the BBC's Superstars series. He attended the 2009 World Championships in Poland in August as a race commentator but decided soon afterwards to make a competitive return. Searle told the Telegraph: "I'd always kept in shape but decided to wait until about three years out and see what kind of shape I was in then. "I didn't want to row in Beijing but the pull of London was just so strong."
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606: DEBATE
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Despite having to fit training around work, Searle beat 85 other entrants in the first GB Rowing trial in October, but the World Championship squad were exempt from that assessment. After Saturday's cancellation he looks likely to have to wait until the New Year to take on the likes of world silver medallist Alan Campbell and other leading GB squad members. Olympic medallists Mark Hunter, Tom James, Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton must also wait to prove their speed, after returning following a year off. "Safety of the rowers comes first", said David Tanner, GB Rowing performance director. "Given [Friday's] conditions we had no option but to cancel."
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