Three consecutive World Championships notwithstanding, the USA had its hands full
today with an experienced, but not particularly medal-laden crew from CRO. CRO broke away
in the second 500 from ITA, USA , ROM and NED. Those four remained tightly bunched until
the last 500 when NED made a furious rush to close and pass ITA and ROM for third place,
just behind CRO and the USA. This is a real dose of reality to the USA which has been so
dominant in the World since 1997. Perhaps it is a good wake up call, which the USA Olympic
champion eights have experienced before. In 1956 and 1964, the last Olympics at which the
USA eight has won, both of those crews ( like today ) lost preliminary heats before they
found their ways to the gold medal. No doubt the USA is looking for such an outcome after
today's disappointment. Look at the colorful instant replay for this race to guage each
crew's movements down the course.LANE CREW RELATIVE POSITIONS ELAPSED SPLIT
1500* CREW TIME TIME
---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 ITA <ITA CRO 1:20.80 1:20.80
4 CRO <CRO USA 1:21.22 1:21.22
3 USA <USA ITA 1:21.47 1:21.47
2 NED <NED ROM 1:21.72 1:21.72
1 ROM <ROM NED 1:22.05 1:22.05
---+---+---+---+---+---+
1000*
---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 ITA <ITA CRO 2:44.47 1:23.66
4 CRO <CRO USA 2:45.95 1:24.72
3 USA <USA ROM 2:46.42 1:24.69
2 NED <NED ITA 2:46.83 1:25.35
1 ROM <ROM NED 2:50.04 1:27.98
---+---+---+---+---+---+
500 *
---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 ITA <ITA CRO 4:09.66 1:25.19
4 CRO <CRO USA 4:11.66 1:25.70
3 USA <USA ROM 4:12.97 1:26.54
2 NED <NED ITA 4:13.27 1:26.44
1 ROM <ROM NED 4:14.88 1:24.84
---+---+---+---+---+---+
FINISH*
---+---+---+---+---+---+
5 ITA <ITA CRO 5:33.33 1:23.67
4 CRO <CRO USA 5:35.70 1:24.04
3 USA <USA NED 5:36.41 1:21.52
2 NED <NED ROM 5:36.92 1:23.95
1 ROM <ROM ITA 5:39.69 1:26.41
---+---+---+---+---+---+
Copyright 2000. Kent Mitchell. Race Number 139
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