By Bruce Archer

Olympic hero Andrew Triggs-Hodge, of Molesey Boat club, is eyeing a defining moment as the rowing season comes to an end at the World Championships in Chungju, South Korea, this weekend.

Hodge will row in the men’s eight, as he has throughout the season, after taking gold in the four at last year’s Olympics.

The eights took gold in two of the three World Cup regattas this year, in Sydney and at Eton Dorney. However, a disappointing performance in Lucerne, Switzerland, saw them finish fourth and miss out on a medal.

Although it’s been a year of ups and downs for the GB Team, completing the season with gold in the World Championships would be the icing on the cake for Triggs-Hodge.

He said: “Korea’s what it’s all about. If we win in Korea it’s made it all worth while, if we lose then it’s been a waste of time. It defines the whole season. So it’s imperative we come away with a good result.

He added: “We’re going there to win a gold medal but the practical side of achieving that is a really big challenge. To expect to just rock up and win is very naïve.”

In the Lucerne Regatta, the Americans romped to victory, beating the Germans at the death, and Hodge believes that while both teams will be strong again Great Britain can fight its way back.

“The Americans live and breathe the eight and have a very established set up.

“They showed their cards in Lucerne though, so we know what we need to do out there to beat them,” he said.

Hodge moves to the sixth seat in the boat for the World Championships after sitting in stroke so far this season, but he doesn’t think it will unsettle his rhythm.

He said: “No position is more responsible than any other or easier or harder than any other seat. The seating order just tries to get that last half percent out of you, and Jurgen [Grobler] the coach has got to get that right.”

The World Championships begin on Sunday and finish on September 1.