Before every Summer and Winter Olympics, precisely one year out from the ignition of the flame, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invites a representative from competing nations to its traditional ceremony.

Alex had been in Europe with the rest of the Australian Rowing Team, in between World Cups and September’s World Championships, when the request arrived from Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman for Alex to accept on behalf of his nation at a gala event in Paris.

He was thrilled to accept the honour but rowing’s crew-first mentality often sees its athletes shy away from individual accolades. Alex was no exception, but there would be few in the sport who would begrudge him the opportunity – and few athletes who have poured more into rowing than the imposing South Australian.

“It’s incredible to be asked to be part of the ceremony,” Alex said. “It’s an honour for me and an honour for our sport of rowing to be there in Paris to get the invitation.”

There are still bridges to cross for Alex and the rest of the Men’s Four crew who famously won gold in Tokyo as part of the Hour of Power on the Sea Forest Waterway. Along with Alex Purnell, Spencer Turin and Jack Hargreaves, Alex hopes to be back to defend the crown next year.

First, they must qualify a boat at the World Championships in Belgrade, then earn selection early next year on home waters. Only then can the 30-year-old begin to dream up a scenario in which the crew can try to emulate the feat of the original Oarsome Foursome, who won back-to-back gold in the Coxless Four in 1992 and 1996.

Alex grew up in Berri and never even considered rowing as an option until he was 15, all arms and legs, and was discovered shifting some serious digits on the erg (indoor rowing machine) while boarding in Adelaide.

Like many country kids, he had spent most of his time kicking footballs, playing basketball or sending down some thunderbolts at the local cricket nets. Australian Rules was in his blood; his grandfather Malcolm Hill played in Hawthorn's 1961 premiership side.

“When I moved to Prince Alfred College and began boarding in Year 10, one day I was in the gym and on the erg machine. The rowing coach gave me a few tips and wanted me to try it out in a boat and it went from there,” Alex said.

“I was pretty tall in Grade 10, tall with long arms and long legs, good attributes for a rower. I really enjoyed it, starting doing well, made my way onto state teams, then went to the junior selection trials for the junior world champs. I ended up winning a gold in the Coxed Four and ever since then, the Olympics was always on my mind. I wanted to see where the sport could take me.”

There was one more thing: “You need some decent lungs. I was gifted with those from my parents.”

Alex instantly loved the intense teamwork rowing requires, crew-mates moving as one to hurl the boat onwards. That sense of closeness and community has kept him driven in a sport that demands the kind of gruelling dedication and training few can sustain at the highest level.

“It’s a very, very tight knit team sport; we all have to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time. We spend five or six hours a day together. I really enjoy that sense of community, all of your team trying to achieve the common goal.

“And I just love racing, you’re in the jungle. It really gets the adrenalin pumping.”

The Australian Men’s Four has enjoyed more success at the pair of World Cups this year but the emergence of an excellent boat from Great Britain has seen them pipped into silver in both A Finals. Alex not only welcomes the challenge from Australia’s great rival but said it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“It’s been really exciting. Having this crew right along side us, we have to try and bring it everything we can in our boat speed now,” Alex said.

“We knew we had boat speed before, we could always just go back to that. But now we have to get every single one percenter out of what we are doing. “We’re really trying to dot every I and cross every T to make sure we get the bow ball back in front of the Brits.”

One thing is for certain – Alex isn’t the kind of man to be taking shortcuts in search of victory. Australia’s men’s head coach, Rhett Aycliffe, says Alex is a relentless trainer who is among the very best in the world when he’s confident, fit and in the zone.

Alex suffered a shoulder injury last year and hopes to time his run so he ticks every box when he takes his seat in the boat in Paris once qualified.

“His work ethic is exceptional. He doesn’t miss a lot of training; he’s pretty resilient and robust. And competitive. Those three things make for a formidable athlete,” Aycliffe said.

“They all need confidence. And I think Hilly had a few setbacks last year with his shoulder, a nerve impingement. He runs on confidence and when he’s feeling good and confident, he’s pretty much unbeatable.”

Australia will look to qualify boats for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, from September 3-10.

Phil Lutton