Mens eights final Sydney 2000 olympic regatta.mpeg

[croatianrower]

my coach rowed there in croatian crew

[MarktheMole]

Believe me. As one who was watching on the finish line the 25,000 Australian fans couldn't be heard - the 5,000 Brits emitted a primeval roar that deafened everybody. Something I'll never forget. Never thought I'd stand at the finish of an Olympic final and watch GB romp home first. My third Olympics, second as a journalist (FT). The background story of the 8's coach and his terminal illness is sad but very uplifting. All thanks to John Major, and his £200m cash into sport. Yes really..

[zoey769]

it was a 2k race?

[TheBurgooKing]

amazing comeback by australia

[ausTopGear]

@TheBurgooKing yeah no joke, must have been a quick 500m time!!

[ironoarsman]

really beautiful!

[McFrosty2014]

This is quite possibly the most unprofessional piece of sports commentary I've ever seen. Kind of spoils the video actually.

[nacklejack]

@McFrosty2014 Either you're not British, or you have no heart!

[McFrosty2014]

@nacklejack you're right, I'm not British. My country isn't even in that race. Either way, I have to watch this clip on mute.

[garyisswitchedon]

Andrew Linsday, our CEO is part of the winning 8 - you're a legend Andrew.

[AncTheTank]

Aussie Boxing Kangaroo!

[Haayyyden]

50 strokes a minute? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm considered pretty fast stroke and I can only get 44 in an eight. Shit.

[HitMeQuick]

@Haayyyden The trick is to do them quicker.

[Haayyyden]

@HitMeQuick ;)

[warpboy1]

rowing's the best sport the world, nothing is so hard yet so fun to do

[quercusrober1]

what boat make are GB in? Looks a bit like a resolute.

[AJC79]

@quercusrober1 It's a Vespoli, although I'm not certain of the model. If you look on the linked video the coach of the crew, Martin McElroy does explain what boat it is on there.

[swainwa]

@AJC79 It's a Vespoli Millennium hull with all the hardware being carl douglas

[FTech41]

Mens 8 2004, USA, fastest eight ever. Although this 8 was fast, I gotta go with the world record holding boat.

[AJC79]

@FTech41 in rowing there are no world records, simply world best times. The reason for this is that it is so difficult to compare speeds across different boats. Not only do you have to consider the wind speed, but also water temperature, water depth, altitude, water temp, etc etc. However you are correct in saying that at that time the USA crew was obviously and clearly the best eight about!

[FTech41]

@AJC79 I can definitely see your case and I've seen that video many times, this crew was unbelievable. I wish there were more videos of the USA 8, but the usa 8 was formed of 2 4's. To give you an idea of their speed, the B 4 raced Lucerne before Athens and beat the great Pinsent 4 and Canadian 4. And this B 4 had never come close to beating the A 4 that continued to train in the USA. Teiti did a great job that year.

[AJC79]

@FTech41 I remember the USA crew very well! I wasnt aware that they were the B crew though, to be fair! However the GB crew they raced included a different 4th member, Alex Partridge, who didnt race as he suffered a collapsed lung just prior to Henley 2004. He was replaced by Ed Coode, but was still the first name over the line as the crew named their boat after him! However as the two crews were so close at the finish, it is still possible that a USA 4 may have beaten both!

[FTech41]

@AJC79 Honestly, I'm glad they went into the 8 for 2 reasons. 1 so we could finally win the 8 after a 60+ year wait. And 2, that 4 race was by far the best race I have ever had the pleasure to watch. (well next to the pair from sydney) Pinsent is one of my heros, he's invincible.

[AJC79]

Check on the video that this is a response to to see how good they were!

[timbattersby001]

@FTech41 Just to give you an idea of how fast that lake was in 2004, both the USA and Canadian 8's broke the world record in the heats...

[FTech41]

@timbattersby001 You see it as an incredibly fast lake, I see it as a very competitive year for the 8 category. In the final Canada dropped back due to their stroke seat tearing his Pec muscle. Canada was dangerous that year

[clubrower]

Simply the best eight you will ever see...

[oysih]

@clubrower really? interestin choice

[AJC79]

@oysih Not necessarily. The level of technical ability in this eight makes it look awesome. However it depends on your philosophy, what is more important technique or speed? It is difficult to truely compare crews effectively in terms of speed as there are so many factors which affect speed in rowing, so I personally prefer to look at technique and I have to agree with @clubrower. I also think that this is simply the best eight you will ever see!

Only my opinion of course!

[chinggiskhaan123]

i dont know why people have a problem with the commentating....i love it! pure passion. they are british. no problem saying 'we'. this race is so much better with the commentators.

[oysih]

what kind of boat is gb rowing in?

[clubrower]

@oysih It was a Vespoli

[Queyssel]

Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand right up. Can't believe I used to train & race in that boat as well.

[crazypianolady]

5 and a half minutes of pure pain and dedication but the achievement lasts a lifetime.

[ETAG231189]

I think the Dutch eight of 1996 is superior in technique to any crew, although this crew is sublime. they look less relaxed and are slower than the Dutch

[AJC79]

@ETAG231189 A fair point, the Dutch eight were also awesome. However I feel technically that this eight is better. I think that their catches are cleaner and more relaxed that the Dutch (although this is obviously only my opinion!). Also my understanding is that the eight was the elite group in the Dutch squad, eg the top boat. This eight was the third boat in the GB squad (behind the coxless four and the pair) and still won gold!

[AJC79]

@ETAG231189 Obviiously any such comments are my own opinion, and are ripe for being shot down in flames at any point! ;-)

[slaorx]

CROATIAAAA

[fulhamrobadob]

No problem with them saying 'we' but the way Gary Herbert commentates as if he is actually coxing the boat comes across as a pathetic attempt to sound as if he's contributing to the efforts of the crew.

It's embarrassing and I usually watch the races he commentates on with the sound turned down.

As for the crew.....probably one of the best examples of how to row a race...full commitment from the first stroke paying off in absolutely every way

[FTech41]

I loved the commentary, so much passion. Even though I'm from america i still appreciate it.

[eagles1044]

It is some very nice rowing for GB I will give them that, but the announcers really insist on saying "we" despite the fact that none of them are actually in the boat.

[AJC79]

@eagles1044 I know what you mean. To be fair, both are ex internationals themselves, and Gary Herbert had actually coxed the Olympic eight at the 96 Olys. In fact he had coxed the two man from this crew, Ben Hunt-Davis, in that boat!

[iRowGBR]

@eagles1044 Rowing is a team sport. This is British commentary, the first mention of "we" is by Sir Matthew Pinsent, in Sydney he won his 3rd of his 4 Olympic Gold Medals rowing for GB.

Good enough reasons to say "we"!