THE SPORT OF ROWING worse break than having to race the Russians in the preliminary.”4012 The Seattle Times, after the race: “Ulbrickson declined to blame the weather or Washington’s position in the outside lane, where it drew the heaviest current, for the Huskies’ troubles. “‘We’ve rowed in worse weather than this,’ said Al. ‘We simply never got relaxed and swinging. The boys were too tense. They wanted it too much. They were trying too hard. “‘We should have been two beats higher. We didn’t seem to have the snap and life in the middle section of the race. We must improve if we are to provide any competition to the Russian crew in Moscow.’”4013 Royal Brougham: “Tip Goes, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Games Rowing Committee and a former Syracuse coxswain, was telling a British audience on the bank of the Thames that the Huskies were a very poor crew. “‘Nearly every crew in the East could beat Washington,’ boasted Mr. Goes. “Up spoke a middle-aged woman, eyes flashing fire. She wagged a finger under the American official’s nose and said: “‘I know you, Mr. Goes. You have always been an enemy of Western rowing. I guess we gave your Eastern crews too many whippings. I see you are going to Russia as official representative of the Washington Crew. Tell me something. When our eight rows in Russia, which boat will you be rooting for?’ “The lady, who happened to be Mrs. Al Ulbrickson, turned and walked away.”4014 4012 Qtd by George N. Meyers, Huskies to Buck Current, The Seattle Times, July 1, 1958 4013 Georg N. Meyers, Russians Defeat U.W. Eight in Storm, The Seattle Times, July 3, 1958 4014 Royal Brougham, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 9, 1958 The Russians were never challenged in their semi-final and went on to win the final of the Grand by two and a half lengths. Five-seat Chuck Alm, after the crew clocked 6:44 in post-regatta training on the Henley course: “The more I think of it, the more I think it was a mental defeat. Without meaning to, I really believe we THOUGHT we couldn’t beat the Russians before the race began. They were so confident and relaxed all week. They were all so much older than we, and had so much more racing experience. Not one of us said so, but I just wonder if we all weren’t psycho’d out of this one. “[Moscow] will be different. We showed that we could stay with the Leningrad outfit for half the race; we were also gaining on them at the finish. There will be no mental blocks this time. Every man in our boat thinks we have a good chance to win. We’re two lengths faster than we showed last week.”4015 On to Moscow www.huskycrew.org: “After digesting the loss, the men began to focus on the trip to Moscow, and after a few more days of training on the Thames, flew east. The Swiftsure, the team’s shell, was flown to Helsinki and then taken aboard a Soviet train to Moscow. “Once behind the Iron Curtain, the men were treated like VIPs. They were escorted on sight-seeing trips and were the guests of honor at various receptions and events. Even so, the training on the open, choppy Khimki Reservoir was intense. Ulbrickson was also visibly upbeat, seemingly more relaxed. Maybe stroke John Sayre translated the thoughts of his coach when he 4015 Qtd. by Royal Brougham, Russ Crewmen No Youngsters, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10, 1958 1112
