By Paul Martin in Paris

Rebecca Edwards credited a no fear approach as the key to keeping her Olympic dream on track.

The Aughnacloy rower came through the women’s pair repechage alongside Chloe Brew in the third of three available qualification spots for Wednesday’s semi-finals.

Edwards, 30, was pleased with how the duo responded to finishing last in Sunday’s heat and believes they can kick on from here.

“The main thing was getting to the semis, no-one is getting a medal yet,” she said.

“It’s high stakes, there’s more pressure as your Olympics either finishes or you keep going. We’d love to beat everybody but the most important thing was taking that next step.

“The worst thing is to be ruled by the fear of going home and not showing what you can do.

“That pressure was definitely there and I’m really proud of how we handled it.

“No matter the result, it’s always important for Chloe and I to show our best. We’ve left no stone unturned and whatever happens, you can take great satisfaction in putting your best out there.”

Edwards and Brew gave themselves work to do, sitting last at the 500m mark, but battled back to claim a vital top-three spot behind Denmark and Spain.

They are a new-look partnership, having raced in the women’s eight in Tokyo, and Edwards is relishing the challenge.

“Small boat racing is tactical and physical,” she said. “You can go as hard as you want but you have to be able to row in a way that’s sustainable while carrying out the plan.

“The last two days have been a big learning curve for us and now we’ll take stock, the job’s not done yet by any means.

“It (the semi-final) will be a level up but we’ll be ready for it.”

The location of Stade Nautique de Vaires-sur-Marne means Britain’s rowers are not staying in the athlete’s village, which is almost 40km away.

Instead they are cooped up with the canoeists, leading to a feelgood factor in the camp when Kimberley Woods returned with her K1 bronze medal.

“It’s great to have that buzz around,” Edwards added.

“You want that momentum to carry you but you have to stay focused on your own job. We’ve really had to knuckle down today.

“Team GB have done a great job. Even though we’re not in the village, we still feel very much part of the team.

“We get constant updates – we are having a ‘blue day’, so everyone is wearing the same colour.

“Paris has put on a brilliant show, the volunteers who have been so helpful and friendly. It has been brilliant and I’m so happy to be part of it.”

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