THE ERA OF POLARIZATION others that I should be able to get third place at the Olympics.7315 It was challenging for me coming back from having had a year when I wasn’t able to row the single fast because of my back injury, so when I got back and was able to secure the single sculler position, I was still kind of guarded in my optimism. “I went over to Germany to race in Berlin-Grünau behind the Wall, and I was loaned a very heavy Stämpfli boat that I had never rowed before, and it was on an industrial river, and it was really hard to row, and I did miserably. I think my boat filled with water, and I don’t think I even placed in a race there. “Then I went to Lucerne. I was third on Saturday, and I beat the Canadian that ended up beating me in the Olympics. I’m trying to remember who was first and second. Karppinen and Kolbe were not there.”7316 In fact, both were there. On Saturday, John placed third behind Kolbe and Reiche and two seconds ahead of 1984 Canadian Olympic sculler Bob Mills, 6’4” 193cm 176lb. 80kg. Mills, a 1983 Pan Am Gold Medalist in the double and quad, would go on to represent Canada and beat Biglow in Los Angeles. On Sunday, Biglow placed fourth behind Karppinen, Reiche and Canadian Olympic spare Pat Walter, 6’3” 190cm 192lb. 87kg. That day, Biglow lost two seconds on the start and was four seconds behind the field after 500 meters. He then rowed the last 1,500 faster than everyone except Karppinen. Biglow’s Technique in Lucerne Film of John in Lucerne on the previous page reveals a crucial new technical flaw. 7315 behind Karppinen and Kolbe. See Chapter 125. 7316 Biglow, op. cit. 7317 Biglow, op. cit. 7318 Colgan, op. cit. 7319 Wood, op. cit. 7320 Halberstam, p. 171 In the first quarter of the pullthrough, he shot his tail. His legs overpowered his back (Frames 1 – 3). For an athlete whose legs were supposedly weak and numb, this was unexpected and completely unintended. Biglow: “I wasn’t really aware of techniques differing or my changing technique. When you’re rowing, you can’t see yourself. I just felt frustrated that I couldn’t do what the coach would ask me to do.”7317 Of course, John Biglow is not alone in being unaware of his technique in the moment. Throughout history, many of the best in our sport have relied on instinct instead of conscious decision, and rightly so. The Camp Quad in Lucerne Colgan: “Harry seat raced Tiff and Frackelton in Luzern all week long and through the weekend instead of resting us and recovering from the stress of the Camp and the jet lag.”7318 In Lucerne, the Camp Quad rowed their Saturday heat with Tiff in the 2-seat and Sean in bow. They came in fourth and failed to advance. Wood: “We didn’t make the final on Saturday when I was in the boat, and they did on Sunday with Frackelton in the boat.”7319 On Sunday with Frackelton in bow and Sean in 2, they placed a very creditable third in the final. Halberstam: “The word from the others in the quad was that the boat seemed heavier with Wood in it.”7320 On Sunday, GDR put nearly a length on the field in the first 500 meters, stretched it to nearly two lengths by the half-way point and then held that margin to the finish. 2039
