OUR men’s coxless four conjured up one of the most sensational rowing
performances of London 2012 to win Team GB’s NINTH gold today.
And within minutes the women’s lightweight double sculls bagged a TENTH.
The Brit men outclassed fierce rivals Australia by a quarter of a length to
clinch a more impressive victory than even they had dared hope.
The US were a distant third.
Brit hero Tom James said: “I knew once we got off to a start it was good.
It just felt right. It was unbelievable. It started raining, it was windy –
I thought: This is for us. It’s like that all winter.
“It’s epic, it’s beyond words.”
And exhausted team-mate Pete Reed added: “The hours we do – the hours! –
the pain. It’s all worth it now.”
Britain’s coxless fours rivalry with the Aussies has been one of rowing’s
great battles in the past few years.
But it was no contest when it mattered most.
Andy Hodge said of his colleagues: “These three are the best three rowers
Britain has. It’s taken four years to do this, working every day.
“I’m just so proud right now. I’m the happiest man in the world. We
cannot think our support team enough.”
Team GB’s fourth rower Alex Gregory added: “It didn’t feel real. I can’t
describe it. I didn’t look over at the other crews but was aware of where we
were.”
Katherine Copeland and Sophie Hosking made Olympic history with Britain’s
first ever lightweight women’s double sculls gold.
Clear water separated the winners from China, with world champions Greece in
third place.