A former double Olympic rowing champion has said Oxford rower Sholto Carnergie and the men’s eight are in a "dangerous" position heading into the Paris Games.

James Cracknell said the gold medal is not a given, despite the crew's impressive track record.

They have just one World Cup defeat, three European Championship golds, and two World Championship victories.

Sholto Carnegie (right) after finishing fourth in the men's four at Tokyo 2020Sholto Carnegie (right) after finishing fourth in the men's four at Tokyo 2020 (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Mr Cracknell said: "It’s a dangerous position to go in with people thinking you are going to win.

"Someone will come with a rattle, the Australians it is their priority boat, the Americans put their crew together very late.

"And they have got such a big geographical footprint that they will get eight really big strong guys so if they click it will click well if it doesn’t, disaster. But if they get it right, brilliant for them."

Mr Cracknell twice went into the Olympics as part of teams which were heavy favourites to win.

He emphasised the pressure of going in as favourites, saying it is "much easier to be the underdog than the champion".

He added: “No amount of pressure is more than you put on yourself, but that expectation of you’ve done it, and it is in the bag is a bit difficult."

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