Olympic kayaking champion Tim Brabants will interrupt his post-Beijing celebrations tomorrow by attempting to make waves in another water sport.

The A&E doctor from Walton, fresh from becoming Britain's first canoeing gold medallist, will aim to stun Britain's rowing elite by joining forces with top sculler Alan Campbell and winning the prestigious Pairs Head race on the Thames.

At 31, Brabants had never even sat in a rowing boat until a few weeks ago and the received wisdom is that no absolute beginner could possibly hope to challenge top international pairs in the Chiswick to Hammersmith race.

But after rowing with Brabants for the first time this week, Campbell was so impressed by his partner's raw power and mental strength that he ended up predicting: "I've done 11 years and he'll have done 11 sessions by the time we race but Tim's just remarkable. Don't be so sure we can't win it."

Brabants (above), who won a gold and a bronze at the Olympics, and Campbell, who finished fifth in the single sculls, have been pals since meeting at training camps and hatched their partnership in an alcoholic blur after the closing ceremony in Beijing.

"Like most elite sportsmen, I can't resist a challenge and this has been a great experience torn hands and all," said Brabants, who has been tutored at the Tideway Scullers Club in Chiswick by Campbell's coach, 1964 Olympic silver medallist Bill Barry.

Brabants plans to return to medicine and put his canoeing career on hold for 18 months before resuming his bid to defend his 1,000m kayak singles title in London 2012.