INTERNATIONAL ROWING TURNS PROFESSIONAL “Then it began to click, but we were too late. In the next 500 meters we gained back 6 seconds, and Russia won by 8 seconds over us. Their time was an astounding 7:31.70, ours 7:39.50.”3414 Finish times of the three coxed-pairs heats suggested that the Soviet winners of the first heat and the West German winners of the third heat, a club crew from Ruderverein Gelsenkirchen,3415 near Essen, were head and shoulders above everyone else. These two plus Romania, the winners of a slow Heat 2, advanced directly to the final. Stan Pocock: “We Americans found that we’re real green peas. The Europeans race every week for months. Then when the Olympics roll around, they’re ready. “Every country except Germany puts its best oarsmen in the small boats, and Germany has got so many good ones, you can’t tell their best from their worst.”3416 Mitchell: “August 31, 1960 (contin- ued). On calm water we can row 7:35, I’m sure. I don’t believe they can as they won’t have the help of the tailwind. If we get past tomorrow’s repêchage and qualify for Saturday’s final, I will be praying for the return of decent weather conditions. “Our repêchage is with four other crews, and Uruguay, last year’s Pan Am champ, is the one to beat. They rowed a 7:38 today and led Germany to the 1,000. After this, they folded and took third. We have the lane right next to them so will certainly feel their presence in the first 500 meters anyway. 3414 Mitchell Journal 3415 For photo analysis of their technique, see Chapter 91. 3416 Qtd. by Georg N. Meyers, U.S. Crews Need ‘Miracle’ – Pocock, The Seattle Times, September 3, 1960 “On the line today were Argentina, Belgium, Spain, Uruguay and the USA. On the familiar ‘Êtes-vous prêt? Partez!’ we tore away from the blocks at a 40 and even went as high as 41 in the first fifteen strokes. Then we held it up to 39 until we passed the 500 meter mark. At this point, Uruguay shifted from its 36 to a surprising 31 and began to increase its lead to more than a quarter-length. “We maintained a 36 [and] they continued pulling away at 31. At the 1,000 we shifted to 34, and they were 1¼ lengths ahead. “I must admit now that at the 1,100 meter mark I did ask myself, ‘Is it all going to end this way?’ “For an instant I almost felt defeat. However, I knew we were still in there and should keep the pressure on until they might crack. “We’re changing our race pattern somewhat. We’ll stroke 36 to the 1,000 and try to put it to them early in the race. At least we should be with them when they fold; we’re gambling, but we have no choice. If they can outlast us, we shouldn’t be in the final anyway. The Repêchage “September 1, 1960. As far as racing is concerned, today was the most exciting and frightening I’ve ever experienced. “We had to win our repêchage to qualify for Saturday’s final. Our plan for the race was to sprint the first 1,000 meters and hope for the best. “We tested ourselves this morning and discovered that without the help of the wind we could do a 1:48.2 first 500. Yesterday, Russia did 1:45.6 while we were doing 1:53.6. We can’t be left behind like that at the start and expect to be in front at the finish. Hence the change in our race pattern. 943
