Smith is seeking one last hurrah

PARIS: VETERAN ROWER EMBRACES THE UNDERDOG TAG

- Wesley Botton

Twelve years after he won a historic gold medal in London, veteran rower John Smith hopes to close out his top-flight career with a bang when he turns out at his fourth Olympics in Paris.

Smith formed part of the lightweight coxless four crew who won gold at the London Olympics in 2012, along with James Thompson, Matthew Brittain and Sizwe Ndlovu.

He also competed in the lightweight double sculls in Rio in 2016, where he finished fourth with Thompson, and in the men's coxless four at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, where they settled for 10th position.