Credits: Yahoo Sports
Team USA has won their first gold medal in the Men’s Four rowing event since the 1960 Rome Olympics, marking a significant achievement as their sixth gold medal of the Games.
The race was a thrilling contest, with the United States and New Zealand staying neck-and-neck until the final 200 meters. A powerful surge by Team USA secured them the gold, while New Zealand took silver. World champions Great Britain, the pre-race favorites, suffered a poor start and were unable to recover fully, finishing with the bronze medal.
The victorious American team featured Michael Grady, the only member returning from the crew that placed fifth in this event at the Tokyo Olympics, along with Liam Corrigan, Justin Best, and Nick Mead, who all previously competed in the eight-man boat in Tokyo. This quartet had captured silver at last year’s World Championships and have now crowned their efforts with Olympic gold.
Following a disappointing performance in Tokyo where the U.S. failed to medal in rowing for the first time in history, U.S. Rowing implemented significant changes. Under the guidance of new Technical Director Josy Verdonkshot, who introduced a more data-driven approach, the American rowing team has seen a resurgence. Other U.S. rowing teams have also performed well in these Games, with the Women’s Four finishing fifth earlier, and the Netherlands narrowly defeating Great Britain to take the gold in that event.