Rob Waddell is keeping mum on a possible rowing comeback.
The 32-year-old Waikato sporting icon recently returned to Tamahere after eight months as a crew member with Team New Zealand in Valencia.
He was delighted to report he and wife Sonia are expecting their third child - but far more reserved when asked to comment on speculation he's eyeing a rowing comeback for next year's Beijing Olympics.
"No comment," said Waddell, men's single sculls winner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when pressed. "Give us a break, I've only just got back.
"I recently had my first scull in eight years, and really enjoyed it. But it was as much about getting out and enjoying Lake Karapiro again. It was like John Walker going for a run."
Waddell was also quick to point out that after working as the strongman grinder in two America's Cup campaigns he now weighs 120kg - 20kg more than in 2000.
And yet he did not reject the Olympics notion out of hand. "I'm still contractually with Team NZ, but that's the best I can give you."
He said he had "plenty of ideas, but nothing concrete. That just about sums up everything at the moment."
Meanwhile, Waddell was philosophical about not being able to pip America's Cup holders Alinghi in the Valencia finals.
"You just never really knew where you were going to be against Alinghi.
"We threw everything at it, and I thought we were sailing really well apart from a couple of mistakes.
"On the boat it felt like we were starting to win all those first exchanges . . . but I just felt we were up against slightly faster hardware."
The Waddells' third child is due in November.
Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.
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