Euros for Redgrave prove just oarsome
SAMANTHA REDGRAVE and Britain’s women’s four rowers reckon radical restructuring is already reaping rewards after a memorable Munich day at the European Championships.
British stars racked up a red-hot four gold medals on Saturday – including three in a row – in the women’s and men’s four, women’s quadruple sculls and men’s eight events at the city’s 1972 Olympic Regatta Centre.
They followed it up yesterday as Gateshead star Redgrave also helped Britain to soar to silver in the women’s eight event.
Team GB endured a torrid time at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer as just one silver and bronze medal marked their worst Games return for almost half a century.
However, widespread internal change in the months that followed looks to have steadied the ship as Britain returned to the international top table n Germany.
Redgrave, 27, helped fire the women’s four crew to the summit of the podium and teammate Rowan McKellar believes times are changing with two years to go until Paris 2024.
McKellar, who joined forces with Redgrave, Heidi Long and Rebecca Shorten to topple Ireland in the final, said: “There is a lot that has gone on since Tokyo.
“There is a lot more structure now – people are in places now whereas in the year before the Olympics, there were a lot of people going and coming in.
“It is good to have someone who has their role as one job and commitment.
“That is really good and everyone has bought into that as well.
“We knew we didn’t have our best time in Tokyo – we all knew we were better than that. We knew with a few more years that will definitely come.
“I think we are managing that – starting this year.”
The women’s four saw off Romania in Thursday’s heat to enter Saturday’s final as the unequivocal team to beat.
They held their nerve when the pressure was on to cross the line in 6:50.92 and beat Ireland, Romania, Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland to help cap a Saturday to savour for Britain’s rowers in the historic German city.
The quartet will now turn their attention to next month’s World Championships in Racice, where they will bid to continue the momentum heading into the two years before Paris.