Sunday 26th August 2001, Lucerne, Switzerland.
I was unable to do a B-finals wibble I'm afraid - too much to catch up with. A-finals live coverage now archived below - races in reverse order.
Germany topped the medals table, and won the new Team Trophy with 70 points to Italy 67, GBR 60, USA 52 and so on. The medals list goes Germany (5+1+2), Great Britain (4+0+1), and joint third AUS and IRL with three golds and no minor medals.
M8+ A final
The men's eights should have gone - they're a minute left. Grobler's prediction, just now here in the press centre, was 'the Germans will be very hard to beat'. If the British eight could get a medal he would be delighted, but their form isn't strong. 46 for the Brits off the start, though, and they're matching GER and AUS off, but with CRO starting to speed away as they have done so often this season. Six to take it nearing 500, and it's CRO, ROM, I think GER, GBR at the marker. They're all at settle pace now, and still CRO shoving ahead, GER quarter-length back from them, but ROM have pushed into first place. ROM, CRO a seat back, GER a second back and USA, GBR. Still all overlapping hard, ROM now powering away, who can catching them. USA and GBR fighting, but with just a few hundred metres to go, ROM look great. ROM now half a length up on CRo, USA and GER level, they're all taking up the pace, GBR at 40 but too far back, CRO surging again, ROM still just hanging on, can't call bronze, ROM OK, CRO trying one more time, USA just back off GER, GBR back in the fray with the USA, and it's ROM gold, CRO silver, GER bronze, USA fourth, GBR fifth, CAN sixth. Whew, all over for another year! This page is now going non-live, and won't refresh.
W8+ A final
This is getting exhausting. Two to go. The women's eights depart, rating in the 40's still after a hundred metres. BLR look quick, as do AUS, and we can't pick out the rest, though I think GER are ahead of GBR by a touch. Can't see where USA and ROM stand. AUS have raced away, they were out of it in Sydney, and pushed again here at 750 gone, but can't quite shake BLR away. It's about four seats to AUS at the marker, BLR next and then quickly ROM. AUS still holding the race, ROM are pushing again, and now just move past BLR into second. GER are quite low on the rate but making their strokes count. GBR last behind USA. AUS have something like 2/3 length now, they might have done enough to hold on, but here come ROM surging hard, here come GER, the USA are not out of it, yet. BLR and GBR last, the rest in for medals, ROM to 38, AUS to 39, USA to 39.5, ROM belting but won't catch AUS. Australia gold, photofinish while they celebrate. ROM get silver, GER bronze, USA fourth, BLR fifth, GBR sixth.
M4x A final
Two bits of news while we're waiting: the Italian LM4x didn't quite break their event's world record (four seconds outside), and Germany have taken over from the UK on the medal table, while it's ITA-GBR-GER-USA in the Team Trophy runnings. Medal ceremony for the LM4- as the men's quads get ready. Apparently there are 16,300 spectators here at the Rotsee today: and half of those are Swiss, no doubt. Go go go, and they're off, ITA reigning Olympic champions, NED three out of four silver medallists in Sydney, UKR world champions, but beaten by POL earlier in the season.... Everyone is in the running here. They go off in a flock, seemingly nothing between all six, UKR just starting to show their bows ahead, over GER and POL. Passing the boats, GER have shifted through, UKR second, and nothing to choose between ITA and NED, ITA pushing to try and get the upper hand. 650 to go, GER on a roll, ITA's push has worked nicely and they're now second, the crowd get all excited. Can the Germans get the double - men's and women's in this category? But ITA's men have more shots than the NZL women, and their rate is up again, plus NED are from nowhere also in contention, GER should do it, ITA still racing, NED also solid, UKR fading. It's GER gold, and the strokeman stands up with one scull brandished aloft like a banner. Photofinish, and it's silver NED, bronze ITA, UKR fourth, USA fifth, POL sixth. ITA have 67 points over GER 60, GBR 55, USA 48 in the Team Trophy, while GER's five golds look very hard to beat.
W4x A final
Starts at half past. I'm sorry to say that the mayor (or some other worthy) is rattling on, so we can't get commentary. But the quads are off, and as far as I can tell with the dodgy camera angles, FRA and GBR are looking good, with GER slightly up on both. GER have in fact streaked off, and have several seats lead on everyone, as GBR sink back to sixth and there is something going on between UKR and AUS on the far side. It's GER from AUS at 750 gone, with AUS pushing steadily through to meet them. USA and NZL matching rates and very close together at midway, between them at present for the bronze position. GER now being threatened by NZL, who are edging through to meet AUS and sneak ahead of the USA. NZL's Evers-Swindell twins got silver yesterday and now sit in the same place, and as they reach 400 to go AUS have faded behind the USA into fourth, but GER still lead with great strength. How much do NZL have in their locker? GER are still going like a train, USA holding off AUS, NZL are probably too far back to take gold, looks like GER have it all their way. Yes, as they pass us they're almost clear, USA still all but a canvas up on AUS, GBR's Lisa Eyre seems to lose a handle for a couple of strokes before they cross the line but recovers. Gold to GER, silver to NZL, bronze USA, fourth USA, fifth GBR, sixth UKR.
LM4- A final
Another medal ceremony while we wait for the start of the fifth last race today. I didn't have time to put in anything earlier, but the best bit of the earlyraces was following the LM2-, as they came in to the medal pontoon. Victorious Irish pair Gearoid Towey and Tony O'Connor were almost swamped by a drenched duo: Sam Lynch and then Sinead Jennings swam out to embrace them. Jennings and O'Connor are engaged... aaahhhh... In fact, as a soaking Jennings reached up to hug her champion bowman, he could be heard saying "Don't lose that ring in the water!" Anyway, with Italy now leading the FISA Team Trophy table just six points ahead of GBR, things are hotting up. [For the addicts, GBR still have the most golds so lead the old-style medals table.] OK, we're off. They've been mucking about with the coverage - no TV - so as we reach 1000 metres it is DEN, AUT, ITA, FRA, CAN, all the odd seat apart, with NED dropping back a bit. DEN have the point to prove after missing adding the Olympic gold to their trophy cabinet, and the French raced yesterday in the LM eight to get gold, but may not have as much relish for this one. DEN and AUT still close in midrace, leading the field, with FRA next having pushed through ITA. The French did it to Italy's eight yesterday, and they could do it again, but the question is how much can the Danes hold on? Four crews able to medal, CAN and NED behind, and AUT have levelled, AUT look to be rowing away with it, DEN trying to get back, FRA sprinting, ITA too far away, DEN lift again but can't get past, and it's AUT gold, DEN silver, FRA bronze, ITA fourth, CAN fifth and NED sixth.
LM2x A final
Starts in six minutes. OK, they're under starter's order, and about to go. FRA off very quickly, but JPN and ITA also at the front, a tiny lead for the Japanese double with 250ish gone. As the British 4+ comes in to do some interviews with Radio5Live, the ITA and JPN doubles are very close now, ITA pushing through a touch to gain the upper hand. I think FRA are slightly back, yes, in fact POL and GER have both caught them, and POL is in third. JPN are doing what they can, but ITA look too strong, and are now surging away hard, pushing to get clear water if they can. POL looking across, could be threatening second place if JPN don't watch out, nearing 1500 gone JPN are under huge pressure and POL keep coming. OK, POL are of course the Olympic champions, and they are now leaning hard on Italy, just a couple of feet down, with 250 to gone. It's all theirs, these two doubles, ITA move out again, POL sprinting now, ITA still in charge, ITA now to nearly a length, they're doing it the hard way, yes they have clear water, as GER and FRA chase bronze. That will be a photofinish I think, but it's definitely ITA gold, POL silver. And France bronze by 0.03 from Germany, Japan fifth and Denmark sixth.
LW2x A final
Starting at 2:45. Had interviewing to do, and we pick this one up, after GER led from POL and ROM, with GER still in the lead and POL coming through well to grab second. At 1500 to go, ROM and CAN are neck and neck for third, with GBR and NED off the pace. GER starting to go, POL beginning to run out of steadm, ROM and CAN still in contention, GER being overlapped but definite for the win, and POL could just hang on, as ROM go past a frantic CAN. It's GER gold, POL silver, ROM bronze, CAN fourth, NED fifth and GBR sixth.
M4+ A final
They're on the start, an off. USA very fast, water flying from these six fours, and ROM have also rocketed away, with CRO quick in the opposite lane. ITA are also fast, and we see them just seats behind CRO and ROM at the first marker. ITA at 36, but CRO still head them, as do ROM, CRO going particularly strong and moving steadily into a stronger lead. ROM dropping back a little, ITA in second, GBR in fifth and pushing, ROM clearly putting the power on and moving back to nearly level ITA. CRO have only half a canvas advantage, ITA being pushed by FRA moving up, 400 to go. GBR and USA lagging, it's now CRO/ITA level, FRA two feet back, ROM lagging, but the top medals could be anyone's. GBR closing on ROM, FRA at 45, ITA at 38, I can't call this, FRA get gold, ITA silver, CRO just pip an increasingly speedy GBR for bronze, and ROM gets fifth ahead of the USA. Hold your horses, they've just announced the result of the photofinish. Sorry Croatia, but GBR snatched bronze by a whisker! Well done Alex and co! :-)
LM4x A final
Starts at 2:15 CET. The quickest bow to show seems to be ITA, no surprise, and they have half a length lead on DEN at 600 gone. Third are Japan, who I think have changed their order round. ITA go clear with 50 metres before the mideway mark, and they're still rating very high, 37-38 all the way. ITA are sculling tremendously in this race, I don't think there's a hope they can be caught, and that gap just widens as they heave away, as GRE close hard on DEN and then creep through them before the final marker. 250 to go, ITA now at 42, and I think they're trying for the record. GRE have destroyed DEN who now fade badly, and ESP and JPN are neck and neck for bronze. Yes, JPN's stroke is now at three and they do sneak the medal, just. ITA gold, GRE silver, JPN bronze, ESP fourth, DEN fifth and GER sixth. Brilliant! Conditions are very still, hardly any wind, very hot, and pretty humid. They've just pointed out that the Aussie women have just sculled 6:29.68 which yet again breaks the record they smashed in the heat, and improves on it. I can't get the men's time yet.
LW4x A final
Goes off at 2pm CET. Looking good are the USA, but the angle may be deceptive. Yup, AUS, ITA and I think NED all very dangerous. OK, there was a break there, sorry, but at 1500 to go, AUS lead from the USA, with NED just a shade behind. AUS look totally unassailable, almost clear water, but USA are not giving this gold away yet, and come sprinting back. USA upping it again, still in control, USA can't reacht hem, and NED is fighting off a great last sprint from ITA to clinch third. AUS gold, USA silver, NED bronze, ITA fourth, ESP fifth, GRE sixth. Sorry to miss that.
LM2- A final
This one goes off in five minutes. Haining and Strange (GBR) sitting on the start will have just heard about the success of the British lightweight women's pair, but they have a tough contest on their hands, with the Irish men looking especially hard to beat. As the commentator is still running through the pedigrees, they're off, GBR looking to improve on last year's silver, IRL beaten by CHI for silver in 1999, and CAN, defending champions, absent (one is getting married and the other has best man duties...) First ahead, ITA and NED dashing away like rockets, ahead of GBR and IRL in that order. This is a bit of a surprise on form, but we are yet to see if the rockets can live with the pace. Moving to halfway, NED still at 35, the rest a little lower, and it's now ITA by a foot from NED, with I think IRL just behind, and GBR another couple of feet back. This is the crunch section, between the boating rafts and the last timing marker, and GBR are pushing, but so are IRL, now matching leaders NED as ITA fade. IRL pushing strongly look to take the lead, ITA still clinging on a little, four boats in it. GBR push through ITA into third, ITA and NED actually hit the 500 to go line together (though the timing men think different), and the sprints are beginning. IRL whizzing on, NED clinging to them stroke for stroke, GBR at 37 but too far back, IRL and NED fighting it out, 100 to go, IRL have the lead, IRL at 39, looking superb, ITA coming rolling back, and it's Ireland's third gold by more than half a length, NED a well-deserved silver, ITA snatch bronze, and GBR fourth. CHI fifth, YUG sixth.
LW2- A final
They're on the start. OK, it looks like a tight pack, and in this straight final lane draws are a matter of chance. USA and GBR leading off with ZIM and perhaps RSA next. First marker coming, our first chance this week to see the form of these crews. OK, USA have the main advantage, and ARG moving through behind GBR. Someone being shown rowing along - can't see who - might be ARG. Whoever it is makes it look a bit difficult - rating 34. Midway marker, still USA-GBR-ARG, and GBR look to be doing a push. 1300 done, ZIM pushing on ARG, GBR just edging past USA, things are changing. USA responding, USA get back through, and the top two are only half a boat up on ARG, now holding off a strong ZIM challenge. 0.24 between the Brits and Yanks, and GBR's Jo Nitsch got gold in 98, ahead of both Argentinians (Conte and Urbano) who are now lying behind her in third. USA still just ahead of GBR but another British push nearing level again. This is changing with every stroke, and there are five boats in the charge for the line, only RSA out of it. GBR just past USA, USA going again, ARG battling, USA going, GBR at 44, USA over the buoys, GBR gold, USA silver, ARG bronze, fourth ZIM, fifth ROM and sixth RSA. (Good one, girls!)