Munich memories flood back as New Zealand win rowing eight Olympics gold again stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ian Anderson16:34, Jul 30 2021
SKY SPORT
When two-time Olympic champion Hamish Bond talks, you listen. Hearing what he had to say led to a gold medal for the men s rowing eight – and the third in the career of one of New Zealand s greatest Olympians. When the tumultuous year of 2020 ticked over into 2021, the NZ men’s sweep oar programme had few clues about what turbulent water the new year may hold.
Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Hamish Bond (C), flanked by Tom Murray and Tom Mackintosh, in Tokoy as they celebrate winning New Zealand s first men s rowing eight Olympic gold medal since 1972.
In the women’s final, the race favourites strived throughout to catch early leaders Canada and looked like a gold medal was possible 400 metres from the finish, but the Canadian eight held on to win by just 0.91 seconds. It was just the second time in New Zealand’s history that the country has entered a women’s eight since the event was first held in 1976, over a shortened course. The NZ women’s eight debuted in Rio five years ago and finished just outside the medals.
Sky Sport
Celebration time! Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast triumph in the women s pair in Tokyo.
Photo: Steve McArthur/Photosport Ltd 2021
Emma Twigg started the medal rush by winning gold in the women s single sculls.
Twigg dominated the final winning in an Olympic best time of 7 mins, 13.97 secs.
She led from start to finish and crossed the line 3.42 secs ahead of Hanna Prakatsen of the Russian Olympic Committee, with Austria s Magdalena Lobnig claiming bronze.
Twigg told
Sky Sport she could not believe it. All these years many, many disappointments and I just can t thank the people I have surrounded myself by enough, they ve got me here, that s not my result that s my team. I feel like this is fate and here we are, and it s an amazing feeling.
This was the first Olympic gold medal for South Africa at Tokyo 2020.
Meanwhile, it was a double medal for Team USA as Lilly King and Annie Lazor took silver and bronze.
Gold and new Olympic Record for ROCâs Evgeny Rylov in menâs 200m backstroke final
Evgeny Rylov of Team ROC competes in the Menâs 200m Backstroke Semifinal at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)
Evgeny Rylov of the ROC produced an immense swim to win the menâs 200m backstroke final in a new Olympic Record time of 1:53.27. The 24-year-old touched the wall first, 0.88 seconds ahead of the USAâs Ryan Murphy and 1.45 before bronze medallist Luke Greenbank of Team GB.