By Michael Burgess in Paris
Stand up New Zealand – you have new rowing heroes to celebrate.
Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis have continued a wonderful tradition in the women’s doubles sculls, claiming a magnificent gold in the French capital. In a remarkable race, the Kiwi duo timed their run spectacularly, with a brilliant burst in the final 700 metres.
In a tense finish, they edged the reigning Olympic champions from Romania by a whisker – but it was enough.
The final margin was 0.24 seconds, with the New Zealand crew clocking 6m.50.45s, ahead of Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis in 6m.50.59s and the British duo almost three seconds further back in third.
Their triumph had echoes of the memorable Evers-Swindells’ gold in Beijing, it was that close. It was an unforgettable effort by Spoors and Francis, who both took time out to start families after reaching the podium in Tokyo.
They only returned to rowing last year and raced internationally as a combination for the first time just over a year ago at a World Cup meet. There are so many challenges that come with motherhood, especially in the early years, which is why it has been historically rare to see females return to the sport after childbirth.
But Spoors and Francis were undaunted and resolute, determined to find a way to juggle the twin challenges and they made swift progress.
The result on Thursday was a product of a brilliant race plan, that was courageously executed. They were in second after the first 500m – 1.09 seconds behind the Great Britain crew – and had slipped back to third at the halfway point, 1,52 behind the Romanian pair, with the Europeans setting a cracking stroke rate.
But they stayed composed and calm, before accelerating just after the halfway point. Their superior technique was obvious, as they glided across the water at the Stade Nautique de Vaires-sur-Marne, establishing a lead of almost half a boat length.
But the Romanians were always going to come back, managing a final push in the last 150 metres. That made things tight – but Spoors and Francis – found something to hang on, for one of the great wins in New Zealand rowing history.
A magical day for the country was made even more special for the Spoors family moments after the double scull medal ceremony.
After watching her sister take gold, Phoebe Spoors took to the water as part of the women’s four and claimed a dramatic bronze, edging a highly fancied Romanian crew.
The Kiwi four — also featuring Kerri Williams (nee Gowler), her sister Jackie Gowler and Davina Waddy — were locked in a back-and-forth duel with Romania for much of the race, as the Netherlands and Great Britain competed for gold.
Sitting fifth at the 500m mark, New Zealand surged into third halfway through the race and barely kept their bow ahead as the finish line crept ever closer.
Despite Romania’s best late efforts, the Kiwi crew were able to secure a spot on the podium by 0.44s, while the Dutch won the race by 0.18s.
The medal was Williams’ third at an Olympics with each coming in a different boat, having picked up gold in the pair and silver in the eight at Tokyo.
In the last race on Thursday, the men’s four ensured an impressive trifecta for New Zealand on Thursday morning, with a gutsy silver medal.
Logan Ullrich, Matt Macdonald, Tom Murray and Oliver Maclean were pipped by the United States, who led from start to finish. The Kiwis got close in the final 300m, before the Americans edged away again, crossing the line in 5m49.03s, 0.85 seconds ahead of the black boat, with Great Britain getting bronze.
While they would have been targeting gold and were the fastest qualifiers, it was a highly impressive achievement from the Kiwis. It is only New Zealand’s third podium finish in this boat class, usually rated as the toughest outside the eights.
Les O’Connell, Shane O’Brien, Conrad Robertson and Keith Trask won a memorable gold in Los Angeles in 1984, after Dick Tonks, Dudley Storey, Ross Collinge and Noel Mills claimed silver in Munich 12 years earlier. Traditionally Great Britain have completely monopolised this event – winning every iteration between Sydney and Rio for five consecutive golds.
The Kiwi crew had looked good since they arrived in Paris, setting the fastest time in the heats. But they were always going to face strong opposition, particularly from the United States, who were desperate for redemption, after failing to claim a single medal in Tokyo.
Regardless, It was a particularly special day for Macdonald and Murray, who backed up their unforgettable gold in Tokyo – as part of the men’s eight – with more precious metal. Racing in lane four, New Zealand made a solid start, staying with the Americans through the first 500m, as the British were treading water.
The USA crew pulled away from the field in the second quarter of the race, establishing a lead of almost half a boat length (0.95 seconds). With Murray and Macdonald pouring on the power from the back, New Zealand made their move after the halfway point. There was a notable burst of acceleration, which had the American looking across from lane three with some angst.
The margin had narrowed to 0.56 seconds by the 1500m and the Kiwis were primed for a final charge. They almost made it – closing again with 250m to go – before the USA crew found something extra to make the line.
In the second final of the morning, the men’s double scull duo of Robbie Manson and Jordan Parry finished sixth after sitting at the back of the field for the majority of the race.
Manson and Parry, whose late semifinal surge into third booked their spot in the race, eventually finished in a time of 6m 21.44s, almost 9s behind the victorious Romanian crew.