The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 17) -- The United States, silver medalist at the Athens Olympics in the Women's Eight, claimed gold with a time of 6:05.34. The Netherlands earned silver with a time of 6:07.22, just 0.03 seconds ahead of third-place Romania.
The medal favorite US crew stormed into the final race with impressive heat wins. They dominated the second-to-last race of Shunyi from start to finish and gave no opportunity for Romania to catch up.
"This is for the 1984 girls," said US rower Mary Whipple after the race, referring to the last US crew to win the Women's Eight.
Three-time Olympic champion Romania was third at the 500m mark and moved into second at the 1500m mark, holding a three second lead over the Netherlands and a one second lead over Canada. But Romania, three-time Olympic champions, couldn't hold their lead in the final 500 meters and conceded silver to the Netherlands by just 0.03 seconds.
Women's Eight, final standings:
1. United States -- 6:05.34
Erin Cafaro, Lindsay Shoop, Anna Goodale, Elle Logan, Anne Cummins, Susan Francia, Caroline Lind, Caryn Davies, Mary Whipple
2. Netherlands -- 6:07.22
Femke Dekker, Marlies Smulders, Nienke Kingma, Roline Repelaer van Driel, Annemarieke van Rumpt, Helen Tanger, Sarah Siegelaar, Annemiek de Haan, Ester Workel
3. Romania -- 6:07.25
Constanta Burcica, Viorica Susanu, Rodica Maria Serban, Eniko Barabas, Simona Dumitrita Musat, Ioana Cristina Papuc, Georgeta Andrunache, Doina Ignat, Elena Georgescu
4. Canada -- 6:08.04
Heather Mandoli, Andreanne Morin, Sarah Bonikowsky, Ashley Brzozowicz, Romina Stefancic, Buffy Williams, Darcy Marquardt, Jane Rumball, Lesley Thompson-Willie
5. Great Britain -- 6:13.74
Carla Ashford, Beth Rodford, Louisa Reeve, Alice Freeman, Natasha Page, Sarah Winckless, Jessica Eddie, Katie Greves, Caroline O'Connor,
6. Australia -- 6:14.22
Pauline Frasca, Brooke Pratley, Sally Kehoe, Natalie Bale, Elizabeth Kell, Kate Hornsey, Sarah Tait, Sarah Heard, Elizabeth Patrick
