H2- / Men's Coxless Pair
Redgrave Takes One Step Closer to Making History
While Olympic records are being shattered throughout Atlanta this week, the rowing competition could have its own history in the making as Great Britain's Steven REDGRAVE is in the hunt for his fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. Redgrave took one step closer to accomplishing that feat with Great Britain's win in the semifinals in the men's coxless pair on Thursday. With a time of 6:50.30, the English sweep crew edged New Zealand to take first while the Italian crew placed third. The three shells advance to the finals on Saturday, as do the crews from Australia, France, and Croatia. REDGRAVE and partner Matthew PINSENT hold four world titles and are unbeaten since earning the gold in Barcelona. Australians David WEIGHTMAN and Robert SCOTT were first at Lucerne and will be a factor in the finals.
"We knew four years ago we would be in this situation," said PINSENT about the pair in the finals on Saturday. "All we need to do in the finals is keep it simple and not get overawed that it is the Olympics."
"We are here to win it and win it well," said REDGRAVE. "Now it is serious business."
U.S. Women Power Past Favorites to Win Semifinal
The U.S. women's coxless pair of Missy SCHWEN and Karen KRAFT brought the home crowd to its feet as they defeated the favored Australian team in the semifinals with a time of 7:29.31. The 1995 world silver medalists made their move at the halfway point in the race and maintained a good rhythm to oust the world champions. The United States and Australia will be joined by France as the top three contenders in the finals on Saturday. The French women finished second at Lucerne to the Americans. Other shells to advance were Canada, Germany and Russia, which moved through the semifinals after a photo finish revealed they had defeated China by .03.
"It is a relief for us to be in the finals," said SCHWEN. "The first two races you race at a basic level to progress. We have been learning and getting better and now it is time to have fun."
World Champion Danes Salvage Third to Go to Finals
The men's double sculls Danish crew of Lars CHRISTENSEN and Martin HALDBO HANSEN, 1995 World Champions, escaped semifinal elimination placing third to France and Austria who took first and second place, respectively. The Danes, a favorite to win the gold, rowed 4.24 seconds off France's lead pace. In other semifinal action, Italy outlasted the Norwegian twosome to finish first with a time of 6:37.49. Italians Davide TIZZANO and Agostino ABBAGNALE finished first at Lucerne and will challenge Denmark in the finals. Also set for the finals in men's double sculls is Norway and Germany.
"The semifinals are usually the most difficult because of the probability of so many situations," said Italy's TIZZANO. "In the finals you just do all you can. We expect France to be our main competitor but the Canadians can be a surprise."
Chinese Surprise Field, Head List Going to Finals
The Chinese women's double sculls crew of Mianying CAO and Xiuyun ZHANG led from start to finish to narrowly defeat the Dutch crew of Irene EIJS and Eeke van NES by less than a second and earned themselves a place in the finals. The Dutch crew earned the silver at the world championships and placed second at Lucerne in June, dubbing the boat as "one to watch" in the women's competition. Also claiming that title is the Canadian crew of Marnie MCBEAN and Kathleen HEDDLE, who have dominated the event since their Olympic gold in 1992, capturing first at the world championships as well as top finishes at this year's Duisburg and Lucerne Regattas. New Zealand and Australia also advance to the finals placing second and third to Canada in the semifinals.
"We tend not to overrate our abilities until the regatta is over," said Marnie MCBEAN. "We will keep trying to relax and stay focused for the finals."
France Qualifies for Finals in Most Exciting Race Yet
The French straight four posted a time of 6:09.58 to defeat the two-time defending World Champion Italian crew by .04 during semifinal action sending them to the finals. The French shell sat behind the Italians and Australians throughout the race until a power move in the final 500 meters propelled them to victory. Italy and Australia will also advance to the finals as a result of their top-three finish. Italy captured the gold at the 1996 Lucerne Regatta, followed closely by Australia's "Awesome Foursome" who are the defending Olympic gold medalists. Rounding out the six shells to advance are Romania and Slovakia.
"There is a difference between the heats and the semifinals. The French went out today and beat the Australians after losing to them," said Great Britain's Tim FOSTER. "It is good to know that there is no one outstanding. The results prove it's going to be a very close final."
Laumann Relieved with Win in Semifinals
Canadian Silken Laumann commanded a win in the semifinals on Thursday to advance to Saturday's finals in the women's single sculls, a much anticipated race for the four-time Olympic starter. LAUMANN finished at 7:57.68 to place first, ahead of Bulgaria's Yekaterina KHODOTOVICH and Swede Maria BRANDIN, who both earned entry into the finals competition. Denmark's Trine HANSEN, Ruth DAVIDON of the United States and Great Britain's Guin BATTEN will also compete in the medal races. LAUMANN returns to Olympic competition after she captured the bronze in Barcelona. BRADIN is the reigning world champion and KHODOTOVICH placed first at Lucerne in June.
"Getting into the final is a relief," said LAUMANN. "I knew four really good people would be left out and I didn't want to be the one. I focused on myself and rowing my own race and I wasn't worried about where anybody else was."
No Surprises in Men's Single Sculls
Familiar names highlighted the list of the qualifiers in the men's single sculls, including three-time defending Olympic gold medalist Thomas LANGE of Germany, who finished first in his semifinal race with a time of 7:12.30. Finishing second was 1995 World Champion Slovenian Iztok COP, and in third was Vaclav CHAPULA, who also finished third at the World Championships and at Lucerne. Switzerland's Xeno MUELLER, Canadian Derek PORTER and Norway's Frederik BEKKEN also pulled through the semis to go to the finals. PORTER will be looking to become an Olympic gold medalist in both sweep and scull disciplines, as he was the stroke of the victorious Canadian eight in 1992.
| An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games. |