Scary Man on the Inside

[Jase]

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Mahe Drysdale:D those who are relatively new to polo in New Zealand may not have come up against him, hose who have know what an athlete and sportsman he is.



WORLD CHAMPION has a very nice ring to it.:eek:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3399803a1823,00.html

[Paul]

Just to add to that Jase, Mahe has only been training for the single for about a year now, this is like a polo player jumping in a K1 for a year and winning Gold, awesome work!

[Freya]

Yeah! Mahe rocks! I have a new mentor/idol in my life!:D

[James]

I have attached a copy of prt of an e-mail that Mahe wrote after the final. Great to hear how he backed himself!

"I warmed up in very hot conditions and had a pretty good start, leading out as planned. I put quite a bit of distance on Tufte but Synek didn’t let me go with a maximum of about half a length. I was still in the lead at the 1000M but both Synek and Tufte were closing and I felt I was struggling to hold them off. It was now time to test the fitness as I took the rate up a point or two and pushed for the win. By the 1500M I was well in charge with clear water on both the chasers and I was now confident I could hold on. 1750M the gap had narrowed slightly but barring disaster I realised I had it won, it was a special feeling and when I crossed the line a length or so up on Tufte I realised a dream I have had for years, becoming a world champion. A smile soon erupted and hasn’t faded since, I cant describe what it feels like but is a pretty powerful high.
What made the win extra special was most people not expecting me to beat the current Olympic Champion and feeling like I had dictated the terms all the way. "

Mahe has always been a great athelete, but in rowing he found something that he coud take seriously. The scarey thought is how awesome could he be if he had taken polo as seriously??? Even casually he was one of the best players.

Way to go!!

[Andi]

Hi guys
I have Hamish Dugdale with me here in London, so thought we'd drop you all a line...

Yep, we agree with you, that what Mahe has done is utterly outstanding.... we have also been following his new sporting career with much admiration..... but to remember him historically as a great polo player/athlete... did we miss something :) ??

James, maybe you just weren't very good back then when Mahe was playing...;)

Still as you point out he could take rowing seriously, so maybe he would be a bit more imposing if we got him back in a polo boat now...

Hope the winter is treating you all OK!

A & H

[James]

Still he continued to play through till about 2001 some-time i think? Remember back in 1996 , he was still a kid!

[Marty]

Well done Mahe. Nice recount of the race...

Awesome!!

Marty