Josh Hicks, 33, has been withdrawn medically from the crew with gastroenteritis. 

He will be replaced by Tim Masters from the Australian Men’s Four who also raced in the bronze medal winning eight at the 2023 World Championships.

While extremely disappointed by his late withdrawal from the 2024 Olympic eight, it is a measure of Josh’s character that his thoughts were for the crew, and belief in their ability.

“Throughout the past three years, the past iterations of this eight, there’s been an understanding in the group – a group of probably two dozen people who have been in and out of the Eight at any given time - that there will be athletes who win medals, but also a lot of people who are standing behind them; and some of those people are athletes,” Josh said.

“Doing what’s best for the team, what’s best for a particular crew and the group at large is what’s most important. 

“You can get upset for yourself if you don’t make a particular boat, or a circumstance keeps you out; but that would be a pretty ugly emotion and not really worth indulging in.

“It’s been easy to draw on that, doing what’s best for the team, making sure the best people on the day are in the boat. That will give the boat the best chance to go as fast as possible.”

Performance Director of the Rowing team in Paris, Paul Thompson, paid tribute to Josh.

“I feel for Josh. it’s a tough decision for the medical team to make and for Josh to accept,” Paul said. 

 “He is a quality person and a fabulous athlete who always puts the team first.

“Tim Masters coming into the boat is a real asset. He has been in the last two World Championship medal winning eights and I am sure the crew can perform at its best.”

The Men’s Eight Final will be held at 7.10pm AEST.