GOLD AND GLORY BY A WHISKER
And, apart from the monolithic achievement and national celebration, it was a great race. To the heart of it: the British coxless four took the lead immediately with a trademark start, they were technically excellent and prodigiously powerful as their stroke rates went from zero to nearly 50 a minute and their pulses from 50 to nearly 200. By the 250m mark, Steve Redgrave, aiming to make history at the age of 38 with his
last Olympic effort, was already certain of victory. A half-length advantage had been secured, every attack could be fought off.
Celebration: the coxless four team of Matthew Pinsent, delivering a post-race hug for teammate Steve Redgrave, and James Cracknell after their historic Olympic gold. Photograph: Ross Kinniard
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Redgrave had no illusions. As he said in deadpan understatement: "Olympic gold medals are never easy." And although he felt some frustration that the pursuers weren't having the good sense and decency to give up the chase, he was never in doubt.
In the stroke seat, Matthew Pinsent was also satisfied to see the field spread out behind him on the almost-still waters of Penrith Lakes: "The 1,000m mark came and we pulled away, and I thought we were saying bye-bye to them all, but they dug in, and all credit to them."
Most tenacious among the challengers were the Italians and the Australians. Both crews had beaten the British boat in Lucerne at the final pre-Olympic regatta. "We are very desperate when it counts," said Bo Hanson, the Australian stroke. "We threw 100% at it."
The Italians, who won in Lucerne, were not surprised by Britain's explosive start. "We knew it would happen and we reckoned they would pay for it," said Carlo Mornati. By 1500m, it appeared that the British four were on cruise control with almost a full second advantage. As planned, Redgrave, who controlled race strategy from the No 3 seat, called for a push. It came, but the Italians pushed harder, closing significantly. Redgrave had planned to wait for the
200m mark before calling for the final push, but he saw the danger and called early. "In the water," was Redgrave's call, meaning, as Pinsent explained, that whatever power was left to the four must be "attached" to the water through the blade and not wasted. Every last reserve of strength and will-to-win was required from each member of the British boat, not to go faster, but, even more difficult, to maintain speed as their bodies
screamed.
"It got very painful and gutsy," said Pinsent. "When you dig deep after going flat out for five minutes, it's going to hurt. Hurt in the legs, the arms, the lungs."
Tim Foster, sitting behind Pinsent, is an experienced, world-class oarsman, yet he had not anticipated quite what he would have to give in the final 500m. "They told me if we won, it wouldn't hurt. They lied," he said.
Thousands of British supporters were in the stands and the chorus of gasps and exhortations on all sides was replaced by a great cheer as the four held off Italy and Australia to cross the line ahead. Another 50m, or, one might say, another year on Redgrave's 38-year-old life, and it might have been defeat.
The British boat won in 5min 56.24sec, which gave them a margin of just 0.38sec over Italy, with Australia a further second in arrears.
The strongly-fancied New Zealand four trailed in sixth. The split times told the story: the British four were easily fastest over the first 500m, but only fourth fastest over the final 500m. But, as their German coach, Jurgen Grobler, remarked: "It was enough."
Fatigue at the finish was too intense for any immediate celebration, although Pinsent managed to hold his arms aloft. All four had pulled for their lives, but the man you want most in a tight finish is Pinsent, probably the most powerful oarsman in the world. For a moment, Redgrave seemed in some distress. None of them could speak. At length, Pinsent, aware of the achievement of his partner in racing and training for a decade, clambered down the boat to embrace Redgrave. The incalculable debt
that each owes to the other was shown to the world. And then, as an antidote to sentimentality, Pinsent allowed himself to fall into the water.
Rightly, for he knows better than anybody, it was Pinsent who led the tributes to Redgrave, the first athlete of the modern era to win five Olympic gold medals at successive Games. "Steve's the ultimate Olympian, the best Britain has produced," Pinsent said. "It's amazing what he's done. He's an inspiration to us."
Pinsent himself, the rock around which the crew was built, is the fourth Briton to win three consecutive Olympic golds. Foster, an impeccable technical rower, won his first Olympic gold, as did James Cracknell, the bow man who developed into gold-medal class in his own right during the three-and-a-half year campaign.
The celebration of Redgrave's achievement in particular was universal.
"Earlier in the week, there was a New Zealander, an old boy, who came up to me and said you're rowing against my son, but I still want you to win," Redgrave said.
Pinsent revealed that "even Kiwis and Aussies have been saying through gritted teeth that they want us to win, but not by too much". Hanson, the Australian stroke, also paid a generous tribute to Redgrave. "Most of us dream of winning one Olympic gold," he said. "But to do it at five Olympics is something else. Will we see it again? I doubt it. It's a shame he had to race against us."
Redgrave, whose fifth gold was marked by the presentation of a gold pin by Juan Antonio Samaranch, the International Olympic Committee president, thanked his wife, Ann, and Grobler. "Without their support, I wouldn't be here," he said. "I had to battle through the hard times when I doubted whether I could make it, and they were there for me."
Ann Redgrave is the British rowing team doctor, and her contribution in helping Redgrave to cope with diabetes was vital.
Pinsent, the key man for the immediate future of British rowing, is inclined to continue. "I've always liked the idea of carrying on to Athens," he said. "I like days like this. But, first, I need a break."
Cracknell is also expected to commit himself to another torturous four-year Olympic cycle, but Foster's position is uncertain. He has twice undergone serious back surgery. If there is further deterioration he will be forced to retire.
Redgrave was careful not to repeat his infamous invitation in Atlanta for anybody who sees him near a boat to shoot him, but there can be little doubt that his final Olympic race is run. Competing in Sydney despite diabetes and at an age when most oarsmen are long-retired was a gamble that paid off magnificently. Aiming for Athens, as Redgrave knows well, would be foolhardy, a Games too far even for the greatest Olympian.
NICK PITT
Sunday Times
