George hoping tough world lessons will propel him to Paris

Cheltenham rower Tom George wants the tough lessons brought by world bronze to propel him to the Paris Olympics. George and crewmate Ollie Wynne-Griffith overhauled Serbia in the final few strokes to claw their way onto the podium at the World Championships in RaÄice, Czech Republic. Ad But the 27-year-old was gunning for gold and rued a sluggish start for slipping behind Romania and Spain, consigned to the minor medals.

RowingStewart starts new chapter for British rowing with World Championship gold34 MINUTES AGO «99 times out of 100 we win that race but we just didn't get it right on the blocks,» said George. «I think we're a better boat than them, the result doesn't show that and we just let them go. We didn't start well and let them get out, knowing they are strong in the back half.

»We weren't able to neutralise that and we need to address it, it's happened in two championships now. We've let ourselves down in the first 250m." Having claimed their scalp in Thursday's semi-finals, George and Wynne-Griffith's challenge was to again reel in the Romanians who beat them at August's European Championships. But after a long hold on the blocks Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan stole a march on the field and opened up a clear-water lead on the Brits within the first 500m.

The British pair chipped away but couldn't catch Spain in silver medal position. They unleashed a fearsome sprint to overhaul Serbia's Martin Mackovic and Milos Vasic and reach the rostrum. George said: «We were down and out with 750m to go so to dig in like that was pretty epic.