DUNGOG rower Spencer Turrin completed a four-year mission to get to Rio when he was named on Thursday in the men’s pair for the Olympic regatta.
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The 24-year-old initially had hoped to earn a place in the men’s coxless four but instead will team up with training partner and Sydney Rowing Club mate Alex Lloyd as a pairs combination.
Turrin and Lloyd had been part of the four, winning two silvers and a bronze medal at the past three world championships as well as gold at World Cup regattas.
Turrin, who is training in Europe, was born in Maitland. His parents own an antique shop in Dungog.
He moved to Sydney to attend St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, where he discovered rowing, and he has been at the Australian Institute of Sport since 2012, working towards his Olympic dream.
Turrin and Lloyd are in promising form after claiming a silver medal behind Great Britain on the final day of the World Cup season in Poland last month.
“For the last four to five years I have been working towards the Rio games,” Turrin said before heading to Europe for training.
He had trained with the fours, but formed a strong combination with Lloyd.
“Either way it doesn’t matter, as I’m thrilled the hard work has paid off and I’m heading to the games,” he said.