THE SPORT OF ROWING option of postponing the final. The semi hadn’t gone well, which is why we had ended up in Lane 0 in the final. We decided to go ahead.”6524 The GDR Crew, with Roland Schröder in place of Jens Lüdecke in the bow-seat, ground away from everyone in the first 500 meters, and even though this time the U.S. separated itself from the rest of the field, they soon found themselves rowing 38 strokes per minute a canvas down on GDR, who were under-stroking them. Gradually, a foot at a time, GDR put a bit more than half a length on the U.S. by the 1,000 meter post. Krmp: “We went all out in the third 500 because we realized on the way to the start that we would catch the brunt of the crosswind at that point. This is the reason the rest of the field closed on us at the beginning of the last 500. We talked about it after the race, and all agreed that we were winded at the 1,500. “The East Germans had Lane 3, and their margin of victory was gained in that third 500.”6525 Penn A.C. entered the last 500 a full a length ahead of West Germany, but GDR looked unruffled as they stroked home nearly a length to the good. Krmp: “The East Germans were a formidable crew. Given the conditions, we were happy to get any medal.”6526 1989 “If the previous year was an emotional and dramatic peak for Penn A.C. and the club system, 1989 produced in sheer number of medals and participants a vindication of the club system. Overseas, the Penn A.C. Straight-Four beat thirteen other national teams to win at Piediluco for the third consecutive year. In the Worlds Trials, where time standards were first introduced, record in the event. “At the Royal Henley, the pair-without and the straight-four both won.”6527 Doug Burden: “For Ted Nash Collection length down on GDR and less than a seat ahead of 1985 World Champion West Germany in third place. With 250 meters to go, the West Germans had moved into a virtual tie with the Americans, with the British and Italians not far behind. The last 250 was all Penn A.C. as they caught their breath and moved back out half 6524 Krmpotich, op. cit. 6525 Ibid. Piediluco in ‘89, the boat was without Raoul (school or injured), so Ted contacted me in Sevilla, Spain, where I was learning Spanish and training in a single through the winter. I agreed to join them, traveling first to Bañolas for four days to hop in a sweep boat before joining Penn A.C. in Italy, which proved very satisfying indeed.”6528 At the Worlds in Bled, Yugoslavia, Penn A.C. was represented by one member in the eight, one in the coxed-four, plus the 6526 Ibid. 6527 Sweeney, www.boathouserow.org 6528 Burden, personal correspondence, 2010 the straight-four set a U.S. 1804
