Wedding will help to take Zac’s pain away (From The Oxford Times)
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Wedding will help to take Zac’s pain away
9:30am Monday 6th August 2012 in Wallingford
Zac Purchase and his girlfriend after the medal ceremony
WALLINGFORD rower Zac Purchase says getting married in three weeks’ time will help heal his Olympic heartache.
Mr Purchase, who lives with fiancee Fliss Hill, was distraught after winning a silver medal alongside Leander Club member Mark Hunter in the men’s lightweight double sculls final at Eton Dorney.
The duo were desperate to retain their Olympic title in front of a vociferous home crowd on Saturday and captured the nation’s hearts with their tears after being pipped by Denmark.
Mr Purchase and Miss Hill, who are both 26, will get married at St Paul’s Cathedral later this month.
“It will take me at least 18 months to get over this race,” said Mr Purchase.
“I put everything into winning another gold medal.
“But I am getting married in three weeks’ time, which will help take the pain away.
“It is something I can really look forward to. We are lucky enough to be getting married at St Paul’s Cathedral.”
Closer to home there was nothing but praise for Mr Purchase’s Olympic glory.
Wallingford mayor Ros Lester said: “They did remarkably well. They were just shattered emotionally and physically, you felt like you just wanted to hug them to say ‘well done’.
“It’s fabulous, we hope we will be able to see all three of our rowers from Wallingford soon to celebrate their achievements.”
