Exhausted silver medal hero who collapsed with exhaustion had to be carried off by legend Sir Steve Redgrave
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Mark Hunter collapsed with exhaustion and had to be carried from his boat by rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave after winning silver for Team GB yesterday.
Hunter and his teammate, Zac Purchase, endured a race of dramas at Eton Dorney when Purchase’s seat broke just seconds into their lightweight double sculls final.
The race was restarted ten minutes later, but despite leading for most of the race, Team GB were pipped at the line by the Danish team.
A helping hand: Rower Mark Hunter is lifted from his boat by Sir Steve Redgrave
Shattered: Redgrave and a volunteer hold up exhausted Hunter and attempts to get him moving again after his efforts during the mens double sculls final
Tough work: Hunter and his teammate, Zac Purchase, endured a race of dramas at Eton Dorney when Purchase's seat broke just seconds into their race
Disappointment: Hunter and Purchase were dignified in defeat but Hunter's father, Terry, said: 'They are beating themselves up because they got a silver'
An exhausted Hunter was lifted out of his boat by Sir Steve, before recovering to climb the rostrum.
The pair were dignified in defeat but Hunter’s father, Terry, revealed the depth of their anguish. Mr Hunter, 64, who is head coach at the Eton College Rowing Centre, said: ‘They are beating themselves up because they got a silver.
‘It was hard to watch but as a parent you are part of their success and their failure. Coming second hurt them because they feel they’ve let people down.
‘It was gut-wrenching to see. I can’t imagine what it felt like. But when they come back down to earth they’ll start to see what they achieved, not what they didn’t. Right now, as soon as you talk about it a few tears come.’
Mark Hunter, right, and Zac Purchase show their emotion after winning silver in the final of the lightweight men's double sculls
The two can't hide their disappointment at not winning gold but still managed to come second place
Hunter’s silver medal was all the more remarkable considering it came four years after he quit British rowing to live in a beach hut in California.
The 34-year-old, who grew up in London’s East End, took a year out following his gold medal success in the double sculls in Beijing, and flew to the US.
There, he fulfilled his childhood ambition of living the Californian dream, working as a coach at the University of California, Los Angeles, and spending his days soaking up the sun and teaching novice female rowers.
It was, he said, ‘heaven every day’, but the lure of competing in another Olympics proved too strong and he returned to the UK to recreate his partnership with fellow Beijing gold medallist Purchase.
For Purchase, 26, the focus moves to his private life – he marries Fliss Hill, also 26, in St Paul’s Cathedral this month.
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