THE ERA OF POLARIZATION Biglow: “In ‘81, I believe I raced it at something really low, 31, something around there.”7091 In fact, all three of the leaders were low in the slow conditions. Reiche was also at 31, and Kolbe at 29. Kolbe extended his lead to open water over Reiche by 650 gone. By then Biglow was at least three lengths behind him. These margins remained relatively steady to the 1,000. In the third 500, Kolbe FISA 1981 Video 1981 World Singles Championship, Oberschleißheim 1 FRG 7:45.32, 2 GDR 7:48.90, 3 USA 7:51.55, 4 GBR 7:54.71, 5 ARG, 6 NZL Silver: Rüdiger Reiche, GDR, 6’7” 203cm 212lb. 96kg Gold: Peter-Michael Kolbe, FRG, 6’4” 194cm 185lb. 84kg Bronze: John Biglow, USA, 6’3” 190cm 187lb. 85kg Note the body language. Biglow: “I remember feeling great honor and really small.” bouncy, especially in the first 1,000 meters. Kolbe started slowly in his sliding-rigger shell,7090 but by the 250 meter mark he was tied for the lead with Reiche. Biglow started well, and after the Argentine and New Zealand scullers settled into their racing cadences, the American found himself a solid third by 500 meters gone. However, Kolbe was by then clearly in first place with more than three-quarters of a length on Reiche, who in turn had open water on the American. 7091 Biglow, op. cit. 7092 Bob Jaugstetter, Three Medals Highlight 7090 typical of any sliding rigger single. See discussion in Chapter 140. U.S. Men’s ‘Rebuilding Year,’ The Oarsman, October/November 1981, p. 16 made a big push to extend his lead to well over two lengths ahead of Reiche. Biglow started swinging his back more purposefully to the release, but nevertheless crossed the 1,500 four lengths behind the West German leader. After that, Biglow began to move. With 250 to go, Biglow was at 34 and almost overlapping Reiche. As they rowed by the grandstands, the GDR sculler at 35 regained a bit of open water on Biglow and was closing on Kolbe as the West German savored his last few strokes. The final margins were just over a length between first and second and just over a length between second and third. The Oarsman: “John’s Bronze was the first U.S. sculling medal since Dietz’s Silver in 1974.”7092 Biglow: “I remember getting on the trophy dock feeling great honor and really 1981
