ACOG - News - IBM

(25 July 1996; Day 6)

REDGRAVE, PINSENT Ready for Much Anticipated Final

Steven REDGRAVE and Matthew PINSENT are getting down to business. They enter the Olympic coxless pairs final on Saturday with high expectations for themselves and from people around the world who want to witness REDGRAVE become the first rower to win an Olympic gold medal for the fourth consecutive time.

"We are here to win and win it well," said REDGRAVE. "Now it is serious business."

REDGRAVE captured the gold in the men's coxed four in 1984 and in the coxless pairs in 1988 (with Andrew HOLMES) and 1992 with PINSENT. The dynamic duo holds four world titles and are unbeaten since their win in Barcelona, some 57 races. The crew currently holds the world's best time in the event, 6:18.37, established at Lucerne in 1994.

Their semifinal race went exactly as the two had expected: fast, and the pair believed they controlled the pace.

"We were always in control of our boat," said PINSENT. "We rowed the race we wanted to race. We qualified without spending too much energy."

The British crew will heed the warning sent forth by the New Zealanders in the race as Toni DUNLOP and David SCHAPER finished second to the world champions, just 1.34 off the pace. At 500 meters, it looked as if the New Zealand boat would head to the B final; however, in a crowd-pleasing display of power and strength, they overtook the Italian and American crews to stay in the race for the gold.

"It was always the game plan to pace ourselves well. We did not want to go out quickly and find ourselves being rowed through in the last one hundred meters," said New Zealand coach Harry MAHON. "They're a couple of young guys with tremendous ability and they are beginning to realize that. This is where they belong."

While REDGRAVE continued to live his dream of becoming a part of Olympic history, and New Zealand proved that anything can happen at these Games, the men's coxless pair semifinal became a nightmare for the U.S. crew. Michael PETERSON and Adam HOLLAND fell victim to the surprise attack of New Zealand, finishing fourth and forcing the Americans to the B final. At the conclusion of the race, PETERSON collapsed and was rushed unconscious to medical services. He was diagnosed as having an excessive build-up of blood sugar and lactic acid, caused by overworking his muscles.

"I noticed that from 400 meters out Michael was struggling. We tried to up our stroke rate, but he had already given all he could," said HOLLAND. "We just weren't quick enough. On a different day maybe we could have won, maybe yesterday, maybe tomorrow, but not today. Had we been in the other heat, then we would have qualified. We cannot control what happens outside the boat, only what goes on inside."

PETERSON is expected to recover for their finals race on Saturday.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Lynne Bragg.


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