The delicate skin of some of the world's top rowers, notably Tony O'Connor and Neville Maxwell, are now in good, creamy hands. Nivea for Men have stepped in to sponsor the two rowers, who this week took off for a five-week training stint in Seville.

Hopeful of qualifying for the Olympic Games later this year and of taking home a medal, the two men are now looking ahead to a regatta in Lucerne in July, where they must come first or second to guarantee a place in Sydney. Speaking earlier this week, Maxwell pointed out that warm-weather training is not simply an easier way to get through the awesome workload but vital for progress - if you live in Ireland.

Training in Blessington, the two rowers have only been able to put their boat on the water twice in the last three weeks because of the bad weather and windy conditions.