THE SPORT OF ROWING coxless-four, both crews being coached by Paul Thompson. “The breakthrough in Olympic events came on Lake Kaukajärvi in 1995 when the coxless-pair of Megan Still and Kate Slatter, coached by Paul Thompson, won their heat, semi-final and final with a long stroke, dynamic legs and a strong middle 1,000m. 1996 Thompson: “By winning the National Selection Trials, Slatter and Still were confirmed as the coxless-pair for the Atlanta Olympics. The lead-up regatta results were encouraging, but not in the same form as the previous year. The 1995 Silver Medallists from the United States, Karen Kraft and Missy Schwen,6455 had come to Australia for their winter training and enlisted Geelong coach Dick Garrard to help them, and they were the form crew of the European season. “Slatter and Still won their heat, and in so doing went straight to the semi-finals. Seizing the opportunity to get some quality training before their semi-final, Coach Thompson and the crew headed back to Blairsville, Georgia where the Australian team had done its preparation. As the crew and coach made their way to the temporary boathouse that Blairsville had built them for their stay, they were greeted by the sight of state policemen overseeing the dismantling of the boathouse by some prisoners. After some negotiation, the dismantling was postponed and some good training was had. “The Australians drew the United States in their semi and had a good race, leading the Americans into the last 500m. The Americans were on for a race to the line, but Slatter judged to save it for another day. The Americans were clearly buoyed by their success. 6455 See Chapter 137. “Finals day, July 27th 1996, came around, and the team were staying at a university campus in Gainesville, Georgia. The prior evening, the Centennial Park bomb had killed two people and injured one hundred and eleven. A few hours later, there was a specific threat to the Australian Team at the university campus, and all athletes and coaches were evacuated from their accommodation. It was one of those ‘control the controllable moments’ sports psychologists talk about. It became apparent that the team would not be able to go back into their accommodation (except for Coach Thompson, who had to go back and get Kate Slatter’s kit bag!), and the crew headed down to the course to focus on the racing ahead. “Determined to race with smiles on their faces, the two rowers had bought Mickey Mouse hats that they were to race with. To conform to the Olympic Charter advertising rules, the words were covered, and the crew went off to race in their specially designed full-carbon Sykes race boat, named Alan Hahn for his contribution to the crew’s and coach’s success. “Slatter and Still had a good start. Rowing with a good rhythm, they pushed out between the 500 and 750 metre marks and then again at the 1250m. The United States put on a sustained sprint in the last 250 metres and crossed the line down by only 0.39 seconds. Australian women’s rowing now had its first Olympic Champions. “The 27th July 1996 has been Australian rowing’s most successful ever. Two Golds6456 and a Silver6457 were won that day. Along with three Bronzes6458 from the Sunday finals, including Virginia Lee and 6456 Men’s Coxless-Four and Women’s Coxless- Pair. 6457 Men’s Coxless-Pair. 6458 Men’s Quadruple Sculls and Lightweight Double Sculls, and Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls. 1786
