THE SPORT OF ROWING Dunbar: “Like Rusty says, we’re going to have a boat race to settle that.”2342 Nevertheless, the Americans and Soviets developed a friendship of sorts. Murphy: “I was fortunate enough to speak German, and so I acted as unofficial translator. “I was given to understand that their crew came from their Russian Air Force Academy, which made the exchanges even more exciting. [The eight was from the Kiev, Ukraine sports club Krylya Sovetov, which translates as “Wings of the Soviet.” In 1954, they would win the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.] “I was told that none on the Russian crew spoke English. To be sure, I tried a little stunt, exclaiming in English, ‘Hey, that boat is sinking!’ “When three of the Russians looked around, I knew what I was dealing with. “It was during these conversations that I arranged the invitation from the Russians to visit their compound after the finals. I had no idea of the feast that they would prepare for us.”2343 The Racing Eight days later, the U.S. won its heat over Leander Club of Great Britain, the Grand Challenge Cup winners, by a length of open water in 6:09. The Soviet Eight won its heat over Hungary and Italy in 6:10.2. The New York Times: “In the eight- oared semi-finals, the undefeated United States Naval Academy reached the final round. The Americans finished one and a half lengths ahead of Russia, with Australia [Sydney Rowing Club] a close third. 2342 Dunbar, qtd. by The Great Eight 2343 Murphy, personal correspondence, 2005 “Navy led all the way, widening the gap at the end when the Russians virtually stopped rowing. In the other semi-final bracket, Britain’s Eight barely outstroked Yugoslavia in a thrilling race. The British time of 6:32.4 was fractionally slower than the American figure of 6:32.1.”2344 Bob Detweiler recalled the Olympic final for The Great Eight: “When we took off with our racing start, we’d customarily move out and were usually a length out in front after the first 40 or 50 strokes, but we didn’t gain anything on this Russian crew. “They were over there, flailing away with their oars, and they stayed right along side of us. They didn’t have anything on us, but they weren’t behind either, and every time we punched for ten strokes, they did the same thing and stayed right along side. “We got down to the 1,000 meter mark, and we weren’t sure that we were going to win that race.”2345 Krylya Sovetov Part of the post-World War II trend toward more mature, more professional rowers to be discussed in Part IX of this book, the Ukrainian Eight representing the Soviet Union was a highly experienced and formidable crew. They averaged more than 26 years of age. Four of its members were already on board when the club began winning the Soviet Championship in 1946. When they arrived in Helsinki, the same eight rowers had been together for over a year, and after the Olympics, they would go on to win the European title in 1953, 1954 and 1955 as well as the 1954 Grand Challenge Cup. 2344 Navy Crew Gains, But Kelly Loses, The New York Times, July 22, 1952 2345 Detweiler, op. cit. 650
