• Full Story

Rower's family cheering from home

Print

Rower's family cheering from home

3News NZ

Eric Murray's family back in New Zealand were cheering him on tonight

Eric Murray's family back in New Zealand were cheering him on tonight

By Janika ter Ellen

While the rest of us might be a little anxious about tonight's finals, spare a thought for the rowers' families.

Eric Murray Senior is very proud but very nervous as they prepare to watch the race at his grandfather's retirement village in Upper Hutt.

Mr Murray has followed his grandson's progress with pride since he picked up the sport as a university student 13 years ago.

He says his grandson's always been destined for big things, even as a child on the athletics track, he needed a challenge.

It's that energy that's seen Murray rise to the top of the rowing world.

He and teammate Hamish Bond haven't been beaten in four years...

After mixed success at the 2008 Olympics at Beijing it was Bond who convinced Murray to race in the pairs.

“He said alright, we'll have a go, and they haven't looked back since of course.”

The pair are clear favourites to win tonight.

And his family are confident they'll do it, in their honour, of course.

“I’m going to be screaming my heart out saying ‘go Eric’,” Murray’s cousin Daniel Moore says.

No-one will to say the result is a done deal.

“We're not going to jinx anything,” Mr Moore says. “We’d be crucified if we did.”

But with party poppers at the ready, everything is in place for a night of celebration.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

Total
United States of America462929104
People's Republic of China38272388
Great Britain29171965
Russian Federation24263282
South Korea138728
New Zealand62513
All the medals