Evers-Swindell twins win gold

Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell delivered New Zealand the Olympic gold medal they had promised for so long on the Schinias course here today.

The Cambridge sisters had to hold off a frantic late burst from Germany but held on to win a final they were always expected to and handed New Zealand its first medal of the Games.

Up by two lengths at halfway, the gold looked sealed but Germany's Britta Oppelt and Peggy Waleska charged home, finishing within 1.01 seconds of the twins, who seemed to tie up over the closing 250m.

Winners of the last two world championships and unbeaten for nearly three years, the Evers-Swindells weren't going to let their first shot at Olympic glory slip, slouching into their cockpit in relief after crossing the line.

Their time of seven minutes 01.71 seconds was significantly slower than they have rowed previously but conditions were tricky.

As well as hot temperatures, they had to counter fluctuating head and cross winds.

They were one length clear of Waleska and Oppelt at the 1000m halfway mark and moments later had turned that into two lengths, belying the exciting finish that was to follow.

It brought some joy to the New Zealand rowing team, who missed out on medals in their four other races.

Men's pair Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater were one second away from an Olympic bronze but women's single sculler Sonia Waddell was fifth and the pair of Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles sixth in races where they were never in contention.

The men's four finished fifth in their race. The British crew won the race by .08 of a second after a photo, giving Matthew Pinsent his fourth Olympic gold.

The men's pair launched a desperate bid to be among the medals over the final 500m of their race but could make no headway on the third-placed South Africa and had to settle for fourth.

Australians James Tomkins and Drew Ginn won in style, followed by Croatia.

But it was a gutsy performance in hot, still conditions from Twaddle and Bridgewater, competing in their first Olympics. They were fastest qualifiers in heats and third-quickest through the semifinals.

The women's pair were stunned to reach the final after being late qualifiers into the team but were no match for winners Romania. They fell from the boat during their heat but completed the race to advance to the semifinals.

Waddell went one better than her performance at Sydney four years ago but was also left in the wake of Europe's finest.

After a strong opening, Waddell dropped to fourth by the 500m mark and was two boat lengths off the pace after 1000m.

The race was won by German Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski in 7min 18.09s, maintaining her unbeaten record this year and finishing 13.56s clear of the New Zealander.

Waddell was sixth at the Sydney Olympics, the same regatta where husband Rob won the men's single sculls gold.

- NZPA