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Formula One nut Muzerie using Ricciardo as inspiration to be first to the Tokyo chequered flag

Muzerie, 31, is an avid motor racing fan and is hoping to sky-rocket to rowing glory in Japan
Muzerie, 31, is an avid motor racing fan and is hoping to sky-rocket to rowing glory in Japan

Daniel Ricciardo has helped Rebecca Muzerie speed all the way to the Olympic Games, writes Will Jennings.

And the Fareham racer hopes Team GB’s women’s eight can be the first to the chequered flag in Tokyo this summer.

Muzerie, 31, was officially selected in a 45-strong GB rowing squad on Wednesday in a boat that eats, sleeps and breathes motor racing.

They’ve been binge-watching Netflix sensation Drive to Survive in lockdown and Muzerie says Australian ace Ricciardo – a seven-time Grand Prix winner – has got their Olympic engines roaring louder than ever.

Muzerie, one of over 1,000 athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, said: “We’re quite into Formula One so we’re going to have some big Formula One watching parties, because there are a couple of Grand Prix on while we’re away.

“We’re working on trying to get a couple of VIP Zooms with Daniel Ricciardo – that would be great. It’s just about things that we can do together that switch us off from the pressures of speed on the water.

“We’ve all watched Drive to Survive on Netflix and we’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Ricciardo. I think one or two of the crew haven’t avidly watched it as much as the rest of us, but majority rules!

“If everyone’s talking about it, you get on board and on the bandwagon.

“I’ve been through a lot with these girls and it’s just really nice that you’ve got people who’ve been through the highs and lows with you.

“That’s the basis of friendship – I know these girls will be there when you’re having a great day but also when you’re having a bad day, and that puts you in a good place together.”

Muzerie’s route to Tokyo has been fuelled by UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme that allows her to train full-time, access the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering technology, science and medical support.

She was part of the women’s eight who finished fourth at the recent European Championships as the GB crew were narrowly pipped to a podium in Varese.

Muzerie is joined by Fiona Gammond, Sara Parfett, Rebecca Edwards, Chloe Brew, Katherine Douglas, Caragh McMurtry and Emily Ford in the boat and is gunning to banish those Italian demons this summer.

It’s been a tough few months away from the water but Muzerie says they’re peaking at the best possible time.

“We’re really excited,” added Muzerie, who is bidding to add to the 864 Olympic and Paralympic medals won by Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes since the advent of National Lottery funding in 1997.

“It’s been a really tough few months for us and it’s taken a while to get going, but now we’re really building relationships, understanding each other and beginning to find out what works for us.

“We’ve had a lot of time to work and focus in our ourselves. The excitement is really starting to build now.”

No one does more to support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes thanNational Lottery players, who raise around £36 million each week for good causes. Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has on sport at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the hashtags: #TNLAthletes #TracktoTokyo