Greatest Races: Week 27

In 2000 no single sculler in history had ever won back to back World Championships en route to winning Olympic Gold. Born January 7, 1975 and grew up on a King Country Dairy Farm. He quickly rose up the ranks of the rowing elite and at 17 years old made his debut on the international rowing team as a Junior. Eventually studying in Japan and becoming a Judo black belt, Rob's career would be shaped with diverse experiences and seemingly infinite possiblilites. At 6'6" and over 210 lbs (according to World Rowing) his long, often violent stroke would stamp every major international competition from the 1998 World Championships in Cologne, Germany to this 2000 Olympics.

In the mid 1990's he was diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation which according to the Mayo Clinic is caused when "the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly- out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. The result is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that causes poor blood flow to the body and symptoms of heart palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness." This ailment would crop up again in Waddell's bid to win the 2008 Olympic 1x, but shows no sign of weakening him in this week's Greatest Race.