Amongst all the superb gold excitement of yesterday and especially last evening, I had missed this story. Well I have just read about their race and admirable silver medal only just losing to the Danes. I attach the link to their interview (not the best quality) with John Inverdale. If you have not seen then take a look. I challenge anyone not to be moved my this. Effort, determination, pride, true grit Brits - what can you say to adequately sum their physical effort and devastation at finishing second? True spirit!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruen2Rr0z3Q
Agreed, it was a truly tremendous effort from our lads, and the last 500m was brilliant to watch, especially when you could clearly see how deep both they and the Danes were digging for that last bit of energy/strength. Sadly someone had to lose out and take silver and I hope in hindsight that Purchase/Hunter can see how hard they fought for it and be proud of their incredible effort. I certainly am. The interview was moving and quite telling - it demonstrated the ethos our rowing (and cycling) team appear to have developed which is all about excellence - and settling for anything other than gold being seen by the competitors themselves as something of a failure. It's that mindset that really creates winners.
They may regard themselves as failures It beggars belief if anyone else would do so. To win Olympic silver or bronze takes a supreme effort very few are capable of and those who'd criticise such people on their achievements are shameful, in my opinion.
It was a great effort and very decent result, but I thought they might have held their poise a little better. You might be disappointed fair enough, but you don't see the lasses bawling like that when they've 'lost'. That must be what they mean by a 'coxless pair'. Posh boys who think it's laid on for them, hope they learn to live with that and kept it together for the medal presentation. Harsh?
Not so much harsh as just plain wrong - they won the event at the last Olympics and were clearly devastated yesterday, both physically and emotionally, at having failed to defend their title, and in no shape really to talk to anyone following such an immense physical effort - their attitude during the interview summed up why they were winners in Beijing and almost were again yesterday despite not having had a great season in the build up to London. You may also wish to reconsider the cheap posh boys stereotype given Mark Hunter's background and upbringing.
Not just harsh but wrong Mark Hunter is a working class lad from the East End who regularly goes in to schools to encourage working class kids to get in to rowing. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...lympics-Mark-Hunter-rows-beyond-snobbery.html
Fair play to their effort, and their disappointment at not retaining gold. I do think they could have had a little more humility in coming second though, but just a personal view. A silver medal is an incredible achievement, and and an incredible achievement from those who won. The interview just left me feeling that there those who won gold where being forgotten. Be devastated of course but you dont have a right to win. That said I don't know what else we can expect when you stick a microphone straight under someone's nose after a race
Re: Jesus wept Apologies everyone, but just watched it a gain and it still makes me squirm. I do take back the posh boys jibe though, silly of me. It was not a sporting tragedy, for want of a better word, like Paula Rafcliffe repeatedly breaking down injured. It was a supreme effort by fantastic reigning champions which fell marginally short on this occasion. Expecting to win is one way of trying not to lose, but have a bit of humility when you do. They should be proud of themselves and uphold the value of the silver which others have also won and cherish. I can understand anyone being geed up because it's London and if John Inverdale (enough to make to make anyone cry) had given them a moment to compose themselves before shoving a microphone up their nose, I'm sure they would have come across much better. It's all part of this vulgar reality, x factor driven media thirst for extreme emotional responses, which is fine when you've won but you also have to guard yourself and keep the old stiff upper lip erm.... stiff. Did anyone see them collect their medals?
