THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT enough to feel confident about taking on Jährling and company at Lucerne, where we would have our own boat.”6160 Lucerne The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics are best remembered for the Russian-led retaliatory boycott after the U.S. had led a similar boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In the coxed-fours, New Zealand, the reigning World Champion, would compete at Lake Casitas, but the boycott would eliminate the 1983 World Bronze Medal Soviets and Silver Medal GDR, and that made the Internationale Rotsee Regatta in Lucerne the only true world showdown in 1984. Cross: “A fast American four6161 led at 500 metres, with us third behind the East Germans. By 1,000 metres, the ‘East’ had moved through into the lead, while we were just level with the U.S. It had been a fairly ordinary start, but then we started to surge, and by 1,250 it was clear that we would take the ‘East.’ With 500 to go, I looked over at Jährling, and we were past them, opening up over a length of that clear greenish Rotsee water between us and them.”6162 Redgrave: “We clocked just under 6 minutes 8 seconds, helped by excellent conditions.”6163 Lake Casitas Redgrave: “There were only eight entries in our event [at the Olympics], which meant if we won our heat we’d go straight through to the final. We drew the Americans and New Zealand, two crews that we feared, but got an excellent start and forged into the lead. 6160 Cross, p. 104 6161 See Chapter 124. 6162 Cross, pp. 105-6 6163 Redgrave, op. cit., p. 74 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles drew back level, but then we pulled away and won by three-quarters of a length. “[In the final seven days later] I looked across at all the other crews as the umpire went through the roll-call of each country. The adrenaline was surging through me. My nerves saw to that. “Again we got a good start and burst straight out into the lead, but with about 250 metres gone the Americans started coming back at us. “They moved in front of us. I remember straining every sinew, just pulling as hard as I possibly could through the 1,000 metres in the middle of that race just to stay with them. “The brain tends to go into an almost suspended state at these times, but I recall thinking, ‘What’s happening? Why are they out in front? We should be out in front.’”6164 Cross: “Panic bells started ringing in my mind. My legs were screaming at me to 6164 Redgrave, op. cit., pp. 80-2 “The Americans closed us down and IOC 1721
