The Team GB pairing of Matt Wells and Stephen Rowbotham took bronze in the men’s double sculls final on Saturday afternoon.
The pair took to the water knowing that they had not been outside the medals at any world cup so far this season and were confident the best was yet to come.
And so it proved as they secured the second Olympic rowing medal for Team GB - as gold went to the Australian pairing of Scott Brennan and David Crawshay in 6.27.77. The Estonian crew of Tonu Endrekson and Juri Jaanson pipped the Brits for silver by just five one hundredths – 6.29.05 to 6.29.10.
The shape of the race was set from the first 500m, as Australian set their stall out early and took a length out of the field. At the 500m, 1km and 1500m marks the Australians led Great Britain and Estonia through.
But in the final 200m Estonia upped their work rate and narrowly took silver from the British team.
“We dreamed about winning the gold medal before the regatta,” said Rowbotham, “We knew it was going to be a very good race.
“It’s very disappointing not to get the gold, and extremely disappointing not to get the silver - but we’d never pass up an Olympic medal.
“However I’m so proud of what me and Matt have achieved over the past three years and the results have paid off - we’re delighted.”
Wells agreed:
“ On just the last couple of strokes we were hanging on in there and I thought we had it. Then they were coming and coming and I was thinking ‘line please come, line!’
“I think the Australians did something very special there. Going into the regatta they looked very good all the way through but we had a really good race so I’m pleased.”
Go to www.teamgb.com and click on 'Results' to view all the latest Team GB results. Click on 'Team GB' to view profiles of all Team GB athletes.
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