Brits Loom As Main Challengers In Men's Eights
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday September 21, 2000
The unanticipated gold medal favouritism of the Australian men's eight was further confirmed yesterday, after another unconvincing performance from the highly touted US crew.
On a day when Australia qualified two crews the women's eight for Sunday's final and the women's lightweight double for the semifinal eights coach Brian Richardson watched on with cautious optimism as the USA were pushed to the line by the unfancied Romanians.
And given that the Australians' heat time is the fastest of these Games to date, Richardson said his charges had found comfort in the form of their rivals with the exception of the strong British crew.
``I'm not sure what's going on with the Americans, they seem to be struggling a bit," Richardson said. ``We're feeling pleased and reassured that no one went out there and blew away any course records.
``But Britain have looked very good, and will make a tough race of it on Sunday."
Only an embarrassing gaffe from the Romanians saved the US eight from yet another upset defeat in yesterday's repechage.
After leading their more fancied rivals over the final 500 metres, the Romanians assumed they had won, punching the air and standing aloft in the boat.
However, when a photo finish was called, the Americans had narrowly pulled past their rivals, who were pictured celebrating before they crossed the line.
Australia's main rivals now appear to be Britain, whom they defeated during Monday's heat. But in their previous encounter at a World Cup regatta in Lucerne two months ago, Britain emerged victorious.
``It's nice to have the fastest time," crew member and dual Olympic gold medallist Mike McKay said. ``But it doesn't give us a head start in the final, so the job is still before us. There's six boats in the final and we think we can do the job. The good thing about all this is that it shows we're up the front."
In other repechage events yesterday, the Australian women's lightweight double of Sally Newmarch and Virginia Lee maintained their strong medal prospects, comprehensively defeating Greece and Bulgaria.
``I think we're faster than Atlanta, and I'm sure that has something to do with the crew change," said Lee, who claimed bronze at the 1996 Olympics. ``But I've also learnt a lot about my own rowing since then. Obviously we would have liked to go straight through to the final, but rowing in the repechage gave us a chance to work on a few more things."
The Australian women's eight of Victoria Roberts, Alison Davies, Jodi Winter, Bronwyn Thompson, Rachael Kininmonth, Kristina Larsen, Emily Martin, Jane Robinson and Katie Foulkes (coxswain) finished third behind the USA and Canada, but still qualified for the A final.
``We knew the US and Canadians would be very strong, and [event favourites] Romania had a good heat," Davies said. ``But ... we are confident that if we have a good start and develop our rhythm, we can give them a good run for their money."
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald