Flying Kiwis get their revenge
Fiona Bourke and Zoe Stevenson are fast gaining a reputation as fast gainers.
That was exemplified by yesterday’s astounding gold medal-winning display in the women’s double scull final at the world rowing champs in Amsterdam.
In a performance that brought back memories of the New Zealand men’s double scull combination of Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen at the 2012 Olympics, Stevenson and Bourke came from a distant fifth after 500 metres and fourth at the halfway stage – more than three seconds behind leaders Australia – to launch their charge.
Out in lane six, where critics felt it was impossible to win from, the Kiwis flew through the last half of the race to haul in Poland and Australia and won going away in 6 minutes 38.04 seconds – the second fastest time in the world.
‘‘It was a pretty fun race,’’ a delighted Bourke admitted.
‘‘We were out there in lane six, which seems to be our lucky lane, and we didn’t know what was going on in the middle of the field. But we just gave it death, really.’’
Still, she and her crewmate didn’t know they were first across the line.
‘‘I knew that we’d got a medal, but I didn’t know if we were first, second or third,’’ Bourke said.
‘‘No-one could tell me and I didn’t know what was happening – ‘did we win, did we lose?’ After a wee while we found out we’d crossed the line first and it was probably a feeling of relief.’’
Rather than sprinting late, however, the 500m splits of the race showed the duo maintain a remarkably consistent pace throughout that proves too much for their fast-starting rivals.
‘‘People try to shut us down early, but with a bit of fighting spirit, we never give up – if you think you can win, then you can win,’’ Bourke said.
‘‘That’s what Zoe and I tend to do in the finals, just never say die. There’s not many worse feelings than when you’re the crew in front and someone’s charging at you from behind.’’
The combination were denied gold at last year’s world champs in Chungju by Lithuania by 0.04 seconds and have wanted revenge since.
But Bourke, who missed out on the 2012 Olympic final in the women’s quad when a broken oar derailed their hopes, said her drive for success has a longer history. ‘‘Probably since London and not making the A final; I’ve been pretty driven to prove that I am good enough.’’
The final day of the regatta also saw a notable effort from the the Kiwi lightweight four. James Hunter, Alistair Bond, Peter Taylor and Curtis Rapley almost pulled off a miraculous win, but had to bow in the latter stages to the Danes to claim silver for the second successive year.