There wasn't really a lot of water around Jack Hargreaves when he was young but the 28-year-old is certainly at home there now, and on Wednesday morning he'll race for Olympic gold.

Hargreaves is part of Australia's men's coxless four rowing team which will contest the final at Tokyo.

The country product and his team are aiming to become the first since the famed 'Oarsome Foursome' in 1992 and 1996 to win an Olympic gold and they made a statement in Saturday's qualifying session when they advanced to the final with the fastest time.

Saturday was also Hargreaves' birthday and added even more excitement to what is his Olympic debut.

"It's amazing that they're there," Jack's father, Peter told the Daily Liberal.

"There wasn't a chance to have much water around in the first half of his life but it's a fantastic effort to get there after missing out on Rio (in 2016).

"Just to be that determined and the four is the number one boat for Australia, so to be in that boat is amazing and to go to an Olympics game is phenomenal.

"It's just a shame we can't be there."

READ ALSO:

- 'It's magnificent': Olympic passion burns bright for Gamble

- How Dubbo can make the most of Brisbane hosting the Olympics

- Conferences locked in as a new era is announced for western region

COVID restrictions stopped family and friends of athletes from going to Tokyo but many of those closest to the rowing team are currently in Brisbane taking it in together.

Peter and wife Jenny, and their two daughters, are there along with Walgett husband-and-wife Jim and Jane O'Brien, the parents of fellow Australian rower Jack.

Jack O'Brien will be part of the men's eight team which will contest the repechage final on Wednesday.

The Hargreaves family was able to speak to Jack after Saturday's heat win but they've been forced to wait for the final after a typhoon warning and severe weather conditions forced all rowing to be cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.

The entire Aussie team will be in action on Wednesday and it will be the culmination of a huge amount of hard work for Hargreaves and O'Brien, who both grew up out west before attending St Joseph's College and linking up with the Sydney University Boat Club.

The experience in Tokyo is something the pair will never forget and Peter Hargreaves said they are proof kids growing up in the country and in remote areas can reach the highest level in whatever sport they choose.

"They can do anything they want to do. Anything they want to do," he said.

"The opportunities are there. It's up to them to be want to pick it up and run with it."

Hargreaves has already completed a huge amount in the sport and has been part of an Australian team which has won a World Championships title in the past.

Wednesday offers the chance to complete the journey from country kid to Olympic champion, but the dominant Great Britain team stands in the way.

Australia has had to settle for silver behind Great Britain at the past two Games and the European powerhouse was the second-fastest qualifier for Wednesday's final.

Great Britain finished more than a second behind Australian in the heats while the USA was the third-fastest and Italy was next best.

Australia will start the race in lane three of six and Hargreaves will sit in the third seat.

He will again be joined in the boat by teammates Alex Purnell, Alex Hill and Spencer Turrin

"I'm sure our boys will give it their all," Peter Hargreaves said.

"It will be a very, very good race and it's going to be close. If the boys bring their A-game, I think it will be close.

"The Poms will be hard to roll."

The men's four final is set to start at 11.10am at the Sea Forest Waterway.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: