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Olympic Rowing Recaps: 27 July (Day 8)

H2- / Men's Coxless Pair/ Final

Redgrave writes history at 1996 Olympic Games

After a week of intense anticipation, Steve REDGRAVE got his chance to write a chapter in the Olympic history books, earning his fourth consecutive gold medal in rowing competition. REDGRAVE and partner Matthew PINSENT, won the gold medal in the men's coxless pairs with a time of 6:20.09, less than one second ahead of the Australian boat of David WEIGHTMAN and Robert SCOTT who captured the silver. Taking the bronze home was the French crew of Michel ANDRIEUX and Jean-Christophe ROLLAND. With the win, the British duo remained unbeaten since the 1992 Olympic Games and has won three world titles.

In the hunt for seventh through 12th places, the United States crew of Michael PETERSON and Jonathan HOLLAND took control at the 1000 meter mark to move ahead of the Belgium and Bulgaria boats and capture the win in the final B and placed seventh in the overall Olympic competition. The screaming crowd was kept in anticipation as the Americans won by only .65 over Belgium who placed eighth while Bulgaria took ninth and Lithuania followed to round out the top 10.

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"There was so much pressure put on us by the media and ourselves," said REDGRAVE. "We have focused our efforts on July 27 for the last four years. I have never concentrated that much time to win a gold. It is a relief."


F2- / Women's Coxless Pair/ Final

Upset stuns U.S. women

The world champion Australian boat of Megan STILL and Kate SLATTER jumped on the field in the opening 500 meters of the women's coxless pair final and powered its way to a gold medal, winning by a mere .39 over the favored United States crew of Missy SCHWEN and Karen KRAFT. It was not the first time the United States had to settle for second to the Australians. The Americans placed second at the 1995 World Championships behind STILL and SLATTER. Winning the bronze medal was the French pair of Christine GOSSE and Helene CORTIN, world champions in 1993, 1994, and finished second at this year's Lucerne Regatta to the United States.

The Chinese women, rallied for the seventh-place finish in the Olympic contest in the final B of the women's coxless pair. With a time of 7:15.41, the China crew led from start to finish to edge the Netherlands, who clocked a time of 7:17.26 and finish second in the heat, eighth overall. The Czech Republic and Romania placed ninth and 10th respectively.

"I thought we got the silver. I looked at the board and I saw the words 'photo finish' and we were just sitting there waiting," said STILL. "After we saw Australia on the top of the board it was the most magical moment. We were still trying to convince each other we won."


H2X / Men's Double Sculls / Final

Italians do it better earning the gold

With a time of 6:16.98, the Italian men's double sculls crew of Davide TIZZANO and Agostino ABBAGNALE captured top honors to don the gold medal in the rowing competition, defeating the Norwegian and French crews that took second and third, respectively. Italy's pair are no strangers to the top honor as they were members of the Olympic championship eight crew in 1988. After the race, the two embraced so vigorously, the deck people had to keep the boat from tipping while ABBAGNALE sobbed with emotion for nearly five minutes after the race. Norway's Kjetil UNDSET and Steffen STOERSETH finished 1.44 off the pace for the silver medal, while France's Frederic KOWAL and Samuel BARATHAY were three seconds back to take the bronze.

With the Canadian fans on their feet, the crew of Michael FORGERON and TODD HALLETT gave the crowd something to cheer about, winning the final B in the men's double sculls to land a seventh-place ranking in the rowing competition. The Australian sculling boat, one of only three Australian boats which did not advance to the medal finals, earned an eighth-place finish, just one second back of the Canada boat.

"From the start there was a good feeling between the two of us," said Italy's TIZZANO. "We have so much trust and confidence in each other. I'm proud to be his partner and I know he feels that way about me. The last two weeks have been like playing cards, a poker game. Now, we have won."


F2X / Women's Double Sculls/ Final

MCBEAN and HEDDLE accomplish more than just a gold

Canada's Marnie MCBEAN and Kathleen HEDDLE, successfully defended their Olympic gold medal titles in the women's double sculls defeating the Chinese crew of Mianying CAO and Xiuyun ZHANG by a half of a boat length. While China took the silver medal it was the Dutch who hung on to earn the bronze, only 1.88 back. The Canadian crew's gold medal may not be the only hardware they take home from Atlanta, as the pair looks to win a second gold medal in the women's quadruple sculls on Sunday. If the crew wins, it will be the duo's fourth gold medal in four different disciplines in Olympic competition.

In the final B of the women's double sculls, the Norwegian crew of Kristine BJERKNES and Kristine KLAVENESS rowed a close head-to-head race with the Ukraine boat, but was able to salvage the win by only .65 to land the seventh-place position in overall competition. Finishing in third was the United States who will end the competition in ninth.

"In our warm up something was wrong but we decided to let it be and just race," said Marnie MCBEAN. "The best way to get rid of the nerves is to listen to the starter and once you start to row there is no time to be nervous.


H4- / Men's Coxless Four / Final

Awesome Foursome proves worthy of name

In an "awesome" display of power, the Australian crew of Drew GINN, James TOMKINS, Nicholas GREEN and Michael MCKAY, known as the "Awesome Foursome" in the rowing world, outlasted the final 500 meter push by the French boat to capture their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men's coxless four event. The Australians paced a time of 6:06.37, to win by less than one second. Capturing the bronze was the Great Britain crew, while the two-time defending world championship Italian crew had a disappointing sixth-place finish in the rowing competition.

The excitment in the final B races continued as the Croatian boat in the men's coxless four ousted the Norwegian crew with a time of 7:25.83, a win by only one second. The Croatians took seventh place, while Norway finished eighth and Germany and China completed the top 10.

"At the trials, no one was confident about our ability and they were saying the awesome foursome won't do what they did before," said Drew GINN. "But we're here. We won the gold medal and that's all that counts."


F1X / Women's Single Sculls / Final

KHORDOTOVICH dominates race for the gold

Yekaterin KHORDOTOVICH of Belarus, who stunned the competition in Lucerne with a first-place finish capturing first, did the same during the Olympic finals, winning the gold medal and beating favored Silken LAUMANN of Canada by nearly three seconds. KHORDOTOVICH took the lead from the outset and never looked back. It was Belarus' first medal in Olympic rowing competition. At the Duisburg Regatta earlier this year, KHORDOTOVICH finished behind of LAUMANN but turned the tables in Atlanta, forcing LAUMANN to settle for the silver medal. LAUMANN earned the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games and will have only the silver and bronze to show for her Olympic career after announcing she will not return to Olympic competition. Earning the bronze, was Trine HANSEN of Denmark, who finished at 7:32.21.

Belgium's Annelies BREDAEL took seventh in the women's single sculls after winning the final B, beating Rumyana NEYKOVA of Bulgaria and Romania's Elisabeta LIPA. Only three seconds separated the three boats.

"At this point, I don't think I will continue, "said LAUMANN. "I have accomplished what I wanted to and now it is time to get on with the rest of my life."


H1X / Men's Single Sculls / Final

MUELLER defeats idol for Olympic gold

Switzerland's Xeno MUELLER ordered one more upset in the 1996 Olympic rowing competition dominating a field that included two-time Olympic gold medalist Thomas LANGE of Germany as well as Lucerne top-finisher Derek PORTER of Canada, to earn the gold in the men's single scull event. The win was a decisive one, defeating the silver medalist PORTER and LANGE by nearly three seconds. The win was a surprise to many as MUELLER, who took second at the 1994 World Championships, had a disappointing sixth-place performance in 1995.

In the final B of the men's single sculls, New Zealand's Robert WADDELL took command at the halfway point to propel himself to seventh in the Olympic Regatta. Three seconds back, Egypt's Aly IBRAHIM finished eighth and Austria's Horst NUSSBAUMER, ninth.

"I respect Thomas (LANGE) so much. He is my idol," said MUELLER. "When he congratulated me on the deck it was very warm and I was very touched."

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


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).