Three-times world rowing champion Mahe Drysdale overcame an ailing Rob Waddell to win the third and final trial race for New Zealand's single sculls position at the Beijing Olympics.
   
Waddell, the 2000 Olympic champion, complained of an irregular heartbeat during the final race on Lake Karapiro, south of Hamilton, saying it had upset his ryhthm and allowed Drysdale to coast to a 15-second victory.
   
The trials had captivated New Zealand and the final race was shown live on television. Drysdale won the first race on Sunday before Waddell evened the contest on Monday. Tuesday's race was postponed because of high winds and choppy conditions.
  
"It's a problem I have had for many, many years and thought had gone away .... and it happened about 300m in," Waddell, who said his heart had exceeded 200 beats per minute, told reporters.
   
"The simple feeling is you're like rowing in mud. There's nothing you can do about it. It's just the way it is."
   
Waddell and Drysdale had been forced into the showdown after Drysdale qualified a boat for the Beijing Olympics by winning three successive world titles.
   
Waddell won two world titles in the late 1990s before claiming gold at Sydney and made a surprise return to the sport last year after spending much of the previous seven years on board Team New Zealand's America's Cup challenge.
   
Medication 
   
Under International Olympic Committee rules there is only one entry per country for the event. New Zealand Rowing selectors had said the unsuccessful single sculls candidate would probably be moved into another crew.
   
Waddell said the re-emergence of his condition might force him to reconsider his Olympics goal, adding that he was reluctant to return to long-term use of medication he took during the Sydney Games.
   
"I took it at Sydney, it's what got me through at the Olympics. I didn't want to go on the medication again because it is a high risk."
   
Drysdale said he knew something was wrong with Waddell as he was too good a competitor to lose by such a margin.
   
"It's a shame it happened," he said.
   
"He's an awesome competitor and what he has done this summer has been absolutely amazing."
   
Drysdale is still not assured of the single sculls spot as rowing selectors meet with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to finalise their nominations on Thursday. The team is expected to be announced on Friday.