Rowing

United States of America

Simone

Simone Biles - Olympics.com

Sweden

Armand

Armand Duplantis - Olympics.com

Mikaela

Mikaela SHIFFRIN

Ilia

Ilia Malinin - Olympics.com

John SMITH

John

A year before qualifying a boat for Paris 2024, South African rowing legend John Smith was enjoying the spoils of semi-retirement complete with a beer in hand and making good progress on a dad bod.
Smith never officially announced his retirement after his third Olympic Games appearance, at Tokyo 2020

Paris 2024 | Olympic Games

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02:  Sizwe Ndlovu, John Smith, Matthew Brittain and James Thompson of South Africa celebrate after winning gold in the Lightweight Men's Four final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Eton Dorney on August 2, 2012 in Windsor, England.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Sizwe Ndlovu, John Smith, Matthew Brittain and James Thompson of South Africa celebrate after winning gold in the Lightweight Men's Four final

South African rowing legend John Smith set for his fourth Olympics

Pain is part of the process for John Smith and Lawrence Brittain in their quest for another chance at reaching the Olympic podium. The South African rowing duo has learned to embrace the dark days, for it holds the promise of unlocking another moment of pure bliss. They form the

Tokyo 2020 | Olympic Games

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - MAY 16: Qualified Lawrence Brittain, Kyle Schoonbee, John Smith and Sandro Paulo of South Africa pose after the Men's Four Final of the 2021 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta on May 16, 2021 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

GettyImages-1232923841

Tempered by dark days, South African rowing duo hopes to enjoy the 'spoils of war'

Paris 2024

Tokyo 2020

Rio 2016

London 2012

John SMITH

Olympic Results