Late call-up to Great Britain rowing squad completes remarkable comeback for Jack Beaumont
Beaumont, who broke his back in 2015, drafted into in men's quadruple sculls team after flu-like symptoms force Graeme Thomas's withdrawal
Jack Beaumont (right) pictured with Nicholas Middleton during the 2016 World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo:Getty Images/Philipp Schmidli)
British rower Graeme Thomas has withdrawn from the men's quadruple sculls at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after falling ill with a flu-like virus.
He will be replaced by Jack Beaumont, who arrived in Rio on Monday night.
Beaumont made headlines in August 2015 after he fractured four vertebrae and broke two ribs in a training camp accident in Portugal. The 22-year-old sculler thought his rowing career was over after his double scull was involved in collision with Team GB men's eight but just four months after the crash, Beaumont was back in the water.
Beaumont is used to filling in, having stepped into the boat at the last minute for the second world cup of 2016 in Lucerne, Switzerland, in place of Peter Lambert. Despite the substitution the crew were second in that regatta behind Australia.
Replaced as a precaution
Thomas, who picked up the illness before arriving in Brazil and has withdrawn on medical advice, had been a member of the crew for three years, winning Great Britain's first-ever medal in the men's quadruple sculls by finishing third at the 2013 world championships.
The 22-year-old Beaumont brings Olympic pedigree, with his father Peter having finished fourth in the men's eights at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.
Jack Beaumont with "his biggest fan" father Peter (@jackbeaumont123/Instagram)
Thomas said he was backing his crewmates for Olympic success.
"I still believe they can do it without me and I hope all of this can lift any pressure or expectations and allow them to go out and enjoy it which is usually when people race best," he said.
