Peter Taylor (24) is one of the country's most successful lightweight rowers. In 2007 - a year after taking the Under 23 lightweight double World title in a World Best time - he became part of the New Zealand lightweight double scull with fellow former Under 23 lightweight world champion Storm Uru and the combination began to gel productively.

At Lucerne in 2008, the crew took a superb second place and a week later, were comfortable winners of the qualifying regatta at Poznan in Poland - securing themselves a coveted place in the lightweight double scull event at the Olympics. The crew were unlucky not to make the main final in Beijing, but put on a great show to win the B Final in style and secure a ranking of seventh.

Building on that in a spectacular 2009 season, Taylor (left in picture) and Uru were undefeated at two World Cup regattas and at the World Championship in Poznan, Poland. It was their first elite World title, and marked them out as one of the very best lightweight double sculling combinations presently racing, and a threat at any international regatta.

Peter is also the reigning national lightweight double sculling champion - a feat achieved with Uru – and is in full training for the 2010 season, which will culminate in a World title defence on home water at Lake Karapiro.