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Nagaragawa, Gifu, Japan, Sunday 4th September 2005
Men's coxed four, M4+:
A gritty start from the USA, going out to just under a length lead. They're pushing again around halfway, trying to finish the job, but FRA and CAN are clinging on grimly. The wind has dropped slightly, conditions are quite light tail, flattening the water before it turns around to cross-head as it's predicted to do. Camera's going jittery, can't see. Aha, USA still in front, rating 35, FRA putting in a final push, through the 500m to go mark. FRA go up to 40, 300m to go. USA jump up their rate, but the gap is closing. 200m to go, FRA nearly level, coming half a seat a stroke. Into the last sprint, USA trying but can't hold off this FRA charge. Level - 100m to go. Now it's guts and glory, up go FRA again, a seat ahead, a canvas ahead of the US. Through the line - and behind them GER sneaked through CAN while we were all watching the tussle up front.
Gold FRA, silver USA, bronze GER, 4th CAN, 5th ITA, 6th JPN.
Lightweight men's coxless pair, LM2-:
A tight-ish start, the Egyptians as usual slithering off the start like greased weasels. ITA next behind them, the rest pretty well in a pack together. EGY faded a lot in their semi, but this time they've got nearly a length of clear water, which may make life hard for the others. The wind is slightly cross-tail now, but still very light, good conditions out on the water. CHI shift into second, but DEN have moved up, nearly halfway and they're almost level with CHI, looking across and Helleberg eyeballing the Chileans. Ebert (DEN) is going to give up after this - it's his final glory year, so you can bet they will pull every trick to win. The field's reeling the Egyptians in too, and their heads are going down. Now the real race begins. CHI vs DEN at the front, the rest scrapping behind and EGY going backwards with every stroke. Eberg looks ultra-chilled in the DEN stroke seat, swinging relaxed, but obviously still working hard. DEN by a sniff over CHI at 1500m gone, then ITA (who have been a threat all season) and I think then next ESP. The Spanish may have a good final sprint to watch for. DEN trying to pull away, 350m to go, but CHI won't let them and there's no more than a canvas in it. CHI at 41.5, DEN at 39, both raising it again and 150m to go. DEN still just in front but I don't know how they're doing it, still just a canvas. CHI charging again, last 5 strokes but they can't make any impression on these expert Danes, nothing works.
Gold DEN, silver CHI, bronze ITA, 4th SCG, 5th EGY and 6th ESP.
Lightweight women's quad, LW4x:
CAN out to a very quick start, everyone except NED following them. CAN looking excellent - this is one of their very best boats. GBR staying close to their heels, though, and being drawn out ahead of DEN and FRA (which I hope can last!). CAN just 1/3 up at the first marker, Elizabeth Urbach at three calling something, can't read her lips. CAN much longer in the water than the rest, you feel they could just lean on it and go. And they start to - up at 37 still, edging that bowball out to nearly a full length lead. DEN now coming up on GBR slightly, not more than a few feet in it there. CAN look to be going for the clear water, but can't quite get it, yet haven't really pushed so far, just squeezing on. DEN through GBR, but GBR pushing back at nearly 4 minutes gone. The DEN rate is higher but GBR are still moving, and come level, swapping inches each stroke. Can't see anything of the other crews, the camera's focused on the front. FRA's bow perhaps visible in fourth? The fight between DEN and GBR is reeling CAN back in now, DEN have gone three feet back up, neither of these two crews is letting the other go. FRA trying to come back from fourth, but too far back. CAN holding onto the lead, DEN and GBR sprinting, but the Danes are better. DEN now closing CAN down, CAN have to go. It won't change now, and it doesn't.
Gold CAN, silver DEN, bronze GREAT BRITAIN, 4th FRA, 5th NED, 6th JPN.
Lightweight men's quad, LM1x:
Afraid I missed this one, getting quotes from our lightweight girls.
Gold ITA, silver BEL, bronze CAN, 4th AUT, 5th FRA, 6th USA>
Lightweight women's double, LW2x:
Lighty women sitting on the start, with bars of white sunscreen dolloped over their noses. Ok, they're off, the Germans bulleting off at 51 down to 42 (thanks to my expert rate-watch helper, Zac Purchase). They drop to 40, but already moving out ahead of the rest, with Finland trying to chase but not as strong yet. OK, it's settling down properly, and here come the Finns, a hard surge at 1:30 gone, matching GER at 34 but closing rather dramatically. 500m gone, only quarter of a second in it. Reimer and Draeger (GER) are going to have to respond if they want to hold onto the lead, they can't keep these Finns away. GER down at 33.5, FIN at 34, FIN still moving, the odd inch the odd stroke. It's not spectacular, but you can sense who has the upper hand here. A FIN raise, up to 35 with a specific push just before halfway. Brilliant psychology. Behind it's POL in third, then USA nearly overlapping POL but being pressed hard by AUS. IRL out the back but starting to come back. FIN have got half a length now, and USA are also pushing, at 35, to get themselves into a medal position. GER shoving as hard as they can, but nothing works for them. USA at 38 briefly, a little push. It's FIN by nearly a length as they com towards 750 to go, from GER losing heart, and USA in contention with POL. IRL have moved into 5th now. FIN seem to have settled, don't look under pressure. Draeger (GER) grimacing, and starting to raise the rate. 400m to go. Here comes the GER assault, and it's a good one, they are finally making an impact on FIN, while the USA is closing on GER. Could be a blanket finish, exciting stuff. 150m to go, GER nearly level, USA at 41, GER take the lead, USA also level with FIN, the line is nearing. Inches in it.
Gold GER, silver USA, bronze FIN, 4th POL, 5th IRL, 6th AUS.
Lightweight men's double, LM2x:
A very blanket start, ITA/DEN/HUN all shooting off rapidly. It's HUN first to 500, then DEN, with FRA then GER tackling the minor places. Zac tells me the Danes went off the line at 49 - he's raced both of them already this season. Hungary's cruise speed is 38, but GER go up to 39.5, clearly a push. They need it goo, they're being taken by POL closing up on the near side. Halfway down, and FRA are up to 40, closing down the Hungarians, sticking at 37 but managing to move away from DEN, still in second. We're having very deceptive TV angles at the moment, FRA aren't actually that close. DEN not giving up, Quist in the stroke seat looking like a determined dwarf, and as we get to 500m to go FRA have slipped back, DEN still at 38 and HUN trying to close the door now at 39. The wind's light, quick times, the line's getting close. 250m to go, HUN are nearly at clear water and still moving, DEN up to 41 but it's not happening for them. HUN go for bust, DEN do too, and from nowhere have come ITA on a mad sprint for the third place. Photofinish for third, Zac thinks Poland got it, and he's right, by 0.1 secs.
Gold HUN, silver DEN, bronze POL, 4th ITA, 5th FRA, 6th GER.
Lightweight men's four, LM4-
On to another race, and ITA set off at 45, but FRA are leading after a minute, in fact a superb clear-water lead, at 42. Talk about going for the 250 at top speed. 38 for IRL in third, with POL second. Everyone's in this race, though. FRA still at 41 nearing 500m gone, and it looks as if they're even moving further away. POL steady at 36. OK, now the real race begins. FRA still up front, but the rest are starting to close their big lead down, stroke by stroke. FRA are rowing well, though, and pushing at 39 going through 1000m at 2:52.02. It may be that AUS have crept up, but we can't see - no, it's GER, neck and neck with ITA. AUS having a push at 38 with 750m to go, IRL at 38 matching them. Very hard to tell who will get the minor medals here. IRL launch an all-out attack, raising the rate a pip every few strokes and coming charging into the medals. FRA at 40 (not sure they've been below it for long) and IRL now in second have a canvas overlap on them. Rougher conditions out on the lake, FRA at 39.5 trying to keep their lead, looking more desperate now as IRL attack again. 2/3 length to go, AUS looking high at 40, now 42, on the far side challenging IRL. FRA still in front, 100m to go, all these crews well into the forties on the rate, IRL closing, ITA cloaing, AUS are going to lose out, FRA will keep it, and ITA force IRL to a photofinish for second. A brilliant race.
Gold FRA, silver IRL, bronze ITA just 0.04 behind, 4th AUS, 5th GER and 6th POL.
Women's quad, W4x:
Here we go again - another nerve-racking race for me. Again it will be entirely GB-focused, I'm afraid - go elsewhere for your unbiased reporting! More medal ceremonies to sit through first, but at least it's Hungary's national anthem and I have a minute to catch up with the newsflash piece I have to file.
GBR off at 44, RUS at 35 (?!), GER bow showing first, but not by much, in fact there's a white bow on the far side (UKR I think) which is further up. It's not really settling down, RUS dropping back with their slow rate, GBR at 37.5 and now have a third of a length lead over GER. Keep this up girls, it's a long way home. Bumpy water, that push worked well and they're back to 36, but here come the Germans. GER looking extremely cool, letting their power count, Zac has them at 32 and coming back inch by inch on the very slight GBR lead. GER up to 34, that must be a push. Yes it is, they go a canvas up. This race very close now, UKR still in it. GER looking a little more ragged, back to 33.5 and cruising. GBR not letting them get away, Grainger grimacing, it's still just over a canvas. RUS struggling, the angle flatters them. 700m to go, crab in the German boat! They didn't really stop, a quick look round from Schiller, and GBR are capitalising, pushing. Two feet off GER, at 37, drawn level just after 500m to go. Holding level, what can GER do about this? GER at 35, TV goes on the blink for a moment, Boron tugging desperately. Two feet ahead, GBR at 38, GER trying to come back. Still very close, GER coming back a little, one foot in it. GBR at 38, Grainger going for absolute broke, and they move ahead another foot. RUS coming up at 37 in third, GER have blown, no they haven't, GBR at 39, and going one more time. They've done it, they've done it!!!!
Gold GREAT BRITAIN, silver GER, bronze RUS, 4th UKR, 5th USA< 6th FRA.
Men's quad, M4x:
Again, I'm sorry, I missed it. A minor matter of some WORLD CHAMPIONS to talk to..... A terrible shame, as it sounds like a cracker - the Poles winning, with Cop and Spik's attempt to get double gold just failing (0.49 margin) and Jueri Jaanson yet again making the medal podium. Chalupa missed out, though - again.
Gold POL, silver SLO, bronze EST, 4th CZE, 5th FRA, 6th GER.
Women's eight, W8+:
Hello, a false start for the first time, the USA look to have drifted the furthest as they stop, so it could be them. Apparently the starter has been a bit dodgy all week, with huge pauses which take the crews very off-guard. Britain were also off quick, and are taking their time backing down carefully into place. A clean second start, everyone off together, and it's 45 for the GBR eight, USA making the first move out, rating 39. Then it looks like GBR, with ROM and GER just behind them, GER coming through them fast into second, but their stride leaves them dropping out. Instead it's ROM coming up just past GBR at 500 gone, USA at 35 and looking quite comfortable. It's not the Olympic silver medal crew (though the cox is), but they're out to better it. About 800 gone, and it's still USA from ROM, with GBR the best of the rest but very close. AUS on the far side starting to make a move, but the USA stay at 35 with 2/3 length over ROM. Through the halfway, and ROM are shifting, close the USA down to half a length but the Aussies have crept up into second on the far side, out of camera a lot. USA still working hard but within themselves. ROM at 38 making another move to push away AUS at 36. USA only have 1/3 length now, AUS and ROM closing together on them in a pincer movement. USA lead down to a canvas, 4:20 gone. Everyone's in this, NED is also close to bronze, but GBR a bit further back at 37. 450m to go, AUS at 36 not raised it yet, USA can't either, ROM the best rhythm and now only feet from the USA bow. 200m to go, ROM might be level now, no, they're past USA but it's AUS on the far side leading. Everyone at 39, AUS in the lead, NED coming fast, USA failing, ROM going into second, a complete bunfight. Full-on photofinish, and the Aussies are hugging each other and collapsing.
Gold AUS, silver ROM, bronze NED, 4th USA, 5th GBR, 6th GER.
Men's eight, M8+:
Oh it's all happening. USA off at 47, with RUS on the far side of GER also making headway. The GER bow starts to creep, USA cruising at 39, and there has been talk of Matt Deakin carrying a back injury - he's back to sit at 2. RUS moving up, rating a solid 36. USA have a canvas on RUS, both crews quite steady, with a fat pack behind them. The times onscreen (and therefore the splits on the tracker) are wrong - ITA were ahead of GBR in the last two places. GER seeming to struggle at 36, USA looking very good, bouncing along. ITA at 39 and coming up quite fast on the USA. RUS out the far side seem to have disappeared, and the Italians are on a charge. 1500m gone and we get the wide angle, POL and RUS dropped right back, ITA hunting down the USA, GBR fourth behind GER. USA make another call, everyone winding up, and POL nudge back ahead of GBR. 300 to go, USA from ITA from GER, GER at 43, USA lift again, can they hold off the Italians? Half a length in it, USA, ITA, GER, and at the very end GBR get past POL by 0.04 seconds.
Gold USA, silver ITA, bronze GER, 4th GBR, 5th POL, 6th RUS.
Medals:
Including adaptive rowing, Australia head the medal table with 4G-1S-1B, while NZ are the real success story with 4G, all in Olympic class boats. Britain are third (3G-1S-1B) and Italy are fourth, with the biggest number (2G-5S-3B).
That's all folks! Thank you to my glamorous assistant (a certain Z Purchase) who took all the rates for me today, most professionally. [ie blame him, not me, if we've got it wrong.] It's been a ball, it's been a blast, and see you all next year in Eton (where I hope to have a team doing online commentary from at least the semis onwards, every race). Fast typists with rowing knowledge may apply. RQ.
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