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Log inWomen's eight rowers cruise to Olympic victory
Women's eight rowers cruise to Olympic victory
by Outspoken on Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:28 am
Women's eight rowers cruise to Olympic victory
By MIKE LOWE
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BEIJING — They crossed the finish line – victorious – and Elle Logan wasn't sure what to do.
So she started slapping the water with her left hand.
Anna Goodale, one seat behind Logan, simply collapsed backward in her seat.
"At the end of the race, you have about 30 seconds of sheer elation and total joy until the absolute pain hits and then you have to collapse because you can't stand up, you can't scream," Goodale said. "You're totally exhausted."
And in this case, totally stoked.
Camden's Goodale and Boothbay Harbor's Logan, the third and fourth seats on the U.S. women's eight crew, struck gold Sunday evening.
Rowing in perfect conditions, a gray sky, slight breeze and calm water, the United States won the women's eight in dominating fashion at the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park. Taking the lead on the first strokes of the race, they methodically built a seven-seat lead that translated into a stunningly easy gold – the first U.S. gold medal in the 2,000-meter event since 1984.
"I would say from the first stroke we just had the utmost confidence in each other," Goodale said. "We felt like we could win. We were all there in it together, and it's an incredible feeling when your dreams come true."
The Americans crossed the finish line in 6 minutes, 5.34 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of the Netherlands (6:07.22), which stunned three-time defending Olympic champion Romania (6:07.25) for the silver.
Logan, only 20 and in her first year with the women's eight, was not sure what to make of it at first.
"We crossed the finish line and I told Anna, 'I've never felt like this before, ' " Logan said. "I don't know what this feeling is."
Goodale, who was part of the U.S. back-to-back world championships in 2006 and 2007, knew: "It's gold," she told Logan.
"Yeah," said Logan, the smile spreading across her face. "It's gold."
Portland's Wyatt Allen helped the U.S. men's eight to a bronze medal Sunday. In their 2,000-meter race, the Americans had the best final 500 meters of the day and nearly caught Great Britain for the silver.
Favored Canada, with Bates College grad Andrew Byrnes in the third seat, won the gold in 5:23.89. Great Britain was second at 5:25.11 and the United States third at 5:25.34.
The United States was the defending Olympic champion, meaning Allen won a gold and a bronze in two Olympic Games.
"You certainly can't complain about walking away with a medal," Allen said.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=205267&ac=PHnws
Photos from The Associated Press
Mike Lowe/Staff Writer
By MIKE LOWE
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BEIJING — They crossed the finish line – victorious – and Elle Logan wasn't sure what to do.
So she started slapping the water with her left hand.
Anna Goodale, one seat behind Logan, simply collapsed backward in her seat.
"At the end of the race, you have about 30 seconds of sheer elation and total joy until the absolute pain hits and then you have to collapse because you can't stand up, you can't scream," Goodale said. "You're totally exhausted."
And in this case, totally stoked.
Camden's Goodale and Boothbay Harbor's Logan, the third and fourth seats on the U.S. women's eight crew, struck gold Sunday evening.
Rowing in perfect conditions, a gray sky, slight breeze and calm water, the United States won the women's eight in dominating fashion at the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park. Taking the lead on the first strokes of the race, they methodically built a seven-seat lead that translated into a stunningly easy gold – the first U.S. gold medal in the 2,000-meter event since 1984.
"I would say from the first stroke we just had the utmost confidence in each other," Goodale said. "We felt like we could win. We were all there in it together, and it's an incredible feeling when your dreams come true."
The Americans crossed the finish line in 6 minutes, 5.34 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of the Netherlands (6:07.22), which stunned three-time defending Olympic champion Romania (6:07.25) for the silver.
Logan, only 20 and in her first year with the women's eight, was not sure what to make of it at first.
"We crossed the finish line and I told Anna, 'I've never felt like this before, ' " Logan said. "I don't know what this feeling is."
Goodale, who was part of the U.S. back-to-back world championships in 2006 and 2007, knew: "It's gold," she told Logan.
"Yeah," said Logan, the smile spreading across her face. "It's gold."
Portland's Wyatt Allen helped the U.S. men's eight to a bronze medal Sunday. In their 2,000-meter race, the Americans had the best final 500 meters of the day and nearly caught Great Britain for the silver.
Favored Canada, with Bates College grad Andrew Byrnes in the third seat, won the gold in 5:23.89. Great Britain was second at 5:25.11 and the United States third at 5:25.34.
The United States was the defending Olympic champion, meaning Allen won a gold and a bronze in two Olympic Games.
"You certainly can't complain about walking away with a medal," Allen said.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=205267&ac=PHnws
Photos from The Associated Press
Mike Lowe/Staff Writer
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Plato (427-347 BC)
