Double scullers Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors have kicked off New Zealand's bid for Olympic rowing medals in style, finishing with gold in their final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Despite a five-day wait for their first medals at Paris — a drought broken by the Black Ferns Sevens and triathlete Hayden Wilde — the NZ contingent have eagerly awaited the first finals in our most successful sport at Tokyo 2020, where we also finished as the most successful rowing nation.
The duo of Francis and Spoors entered their race as one of the favoured crews, after winning their heat and semifinal in preceding days, but they faced formidable opposition in the form of reigning Olympic and world champions Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis of Romania.
Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors head off champions Romania (Source: SKY)
As Brooke Donoghue, Francis teamed with Hannah Osborne for silver behind the Romanians three years ago, while Spoors was part of the silver-medal eight. Both have since taken time out from the sport to have babies, returning from maternity leave for another crack at the biggest prize and qualifying their boat with fifth at last year's world championships in Belgrade.
Romania showed out early, with Netherlands and Great Britain also leading the Kiwis after 500 metres. The defending champions were still ahead at halfway, but the NZ women had moved past the Dutch and made their big move over the next 500 to snatch the lead, holding on for victory, as the Romanians closed fast.
"Honestly, I still can't believe it, but I definitely I've watched so many people win Olympic gold medals," Francis told Sky Sport. "Silver in Tokyo was special, but gold is something else."
"Having done this together, I know what it takes for both of us to be here," said Spoors. "We've had to rely on each other on so many tough days.
"I'm not going to lie, it's been a tough, long build back. I also think of our families, our partners... the whole Rowing NZ team.
"We've had to rely on a lot of people for that extra bit of support, when it felt like a goal that was too big. I want to thank everyone from home, everyone cheering for the mums."
Said Francis: "I think about my friends who are mothers as well and what they go through every day. I have so much more respect for them... what they do is amazing."
Male counterparts Robbie Manson and Jordan Parry could not replicate that feat, trailling throughout their final and outsprinted by Spain to finish sixth, but the women's coxless four continued the medal run with bronze.
While Netherlands and Great Britain diced for gold, New Zealand — Jackie Gowler, Phoebe Spoors, Davina Waddy and Kerri Williams — were left to overhaul and then hold off Romania behind them, barely edging them by 0.44s.
"The pace was hot, but we were ready for it," Wood told Sky Sport. "I think we peaked at the perfect time, we've been building this season.
"That race was fun, we were trying to enjoy it. Our sprint hasn't historically been our strongest, but today, we sent it, so we're really proud of that."
The men's four of Ollie MacLean, Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray and Matt Macdonald went head to head with USA from the start, and seemed poised to snatch victory after a swift third 500. The American responded down the stretch to hold them out, as the Kiwis brought their nation's medal tally to five — two gold, two silver and a bronze.
Earlier, defending single sculls champion Emma Twigg showed she will be hard to beat again, winning the second semifinal in a time faster than two-time defending world champion Karolien Florijn of Netherlands clocked in the first.
Tom Mackintosh also booked his spot in the men's final, finishing second in his semi, but the other race saw German world champion Ollie Zeidler smash the Olympic record by five seconds to confirm his favouritism.
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