THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT competition at the Worlds. The rhythm of the two crews had different looks, GDR like a metronome, ticking the boat along, while on each stroke the Americans would accelerate-and-glide, accelerate-and-glide. This was reminiscent of the contrast between the heavily-rigged GDR doubles and the more lively Nilsen-coached Norwegian doubles in 1975 and 1982.5802 McLaughlin: “In 1987, Kris did not take our boat to any international regattas prior to the Worlds in Copenhagen, which was rare. It might have been because he did not think we were ready to race anyone, but it also might have been because he knew we had some tremendous potential. “By the heats at the Worlds, we all had a good understanding of our speed from all the timed pieces we had been doing, and when we set a world record time in our heat (which was then broken in the next heat), we knew that Kris had prepared us for this one regatta and that as a crew we were as close as possible to his mental image of the perfect, relaxed, Natural Power Style. “The 1987 crew had a magical feel. Kris trained us for countless hours to row at a 17½ with increasing acceleration from catch to finish, with huge amounts of run and with only two sounds – catch and release. “The sounds of the catch and release were then accentuated with Seth’s call of ‘Legs! . . Swing!’ to help set the rhythm. We then took that relaxed feel and raced at 37½ with the same acceleration, the same sounds, the same ‘Legs! . . Swing!’ calls and the same natural motion . . . and the run of the boat was great!”5803 The Race In the World final on the Bagsværd Sø, GDR took a 1.04 second lead over the U.S. 5802 See Chapters 121 and 123. 5803 McLaughlin, personal correspondence, 2006 in the first 500, with both crews appearing to row effortlessly into a headwind, both crews at 36. The margin between the two leaders at the 1,000 had dropped slightly to 0.98 seconds, with the other four boats open water behind. In the next 250, the Americans seemed to effortlessly roll through into the lead. In the bow seat, Mike Teti looked over seemingly in disbelief as the GDR bowball slipped behind him with 750 to go. At the 500, it was half a length, at 250 three-quarters, and at the line it was one full length, 5:58.83 to 6:01.94. McLaughlin: “No U.S. men’s crew had won the open eight since 1974, the year that our boat builder, Mike Vespoli, was in the World Champion Crew.5804”5805 1988 McLaughlin: “The 1987 line-up stayed intact through the selection camps with just one exception. As we trained for the Seoul Olympics, we continually looked for that same 1987 feeling, which would come and go. “Our race plan was pretty much the same as in 1987 – solid start, stay in the hunt and then take our move at the 1,000m mark. Acceleration, Legs! . . Swing! Legs! . . Swing! two sounds – catch and release – send the boat with the acceleration. “But when we raced, we did not experience the same immediate surge as we had in 1987 when we made a move. It was more of an effort, trying to muscle the boat along instead of getting extra run for the same effort with a natural acceleration. “We faltered in the last 500m as we sprinted to catch the West Germans and stay ahead of the Russians. The extra strength we had used in our moves took its toll, and 5804 See Chapter 111. 5805 McLaughlin, personal correspondence, 2006 1613
