BBC One: Day 3: 09.00-11.30 Olympics

Fantastic to see those first medals for Great Britain at these Olympics.

Good morning and welcome. With Britain off the mark, it is over to

the boys to see if they can add to the medal tally. This morning it is

all about getting wet. We are on the banks of the Thames to see if

the growing class of 2012 can live up to the men's four that have gone

before. -- rowing. Then it is back to the pool for the 200 metres

freestyle women's heats, and for the men it is all about the

Waterfield go in search of Olympic glory in the synchro diving. And

this is how it is looking at the Olympic Park this morning. A

beautiful morning, perfect weather for the many people streaming into

the park. Tom Daley is going to be one of the highlights. If you are

out, get near a television for that. There is live sport under way at

Lord's. They are into the men's and women's individual draws in archery.

And they are busy with badminton at Wembley Arena. That is on BBC Three.

Horse Guards Parade, that is where the beach volleyball is coming up.

The men will be in action for Great Britain, facing Brazil. And back at

the Olympic Park, there is live poppy with the men's prelims taking

place at the Riverbank Arena. -- hockey. And there are plenty of

ways that you can keep across the Olympic action, using the BBC's

Board website and the red button. Plenty of choice on offer. And you

can stay with us and what it all unfold on BBC One. Coming up in the

next half an hour, we will hear from Tom Daley, the men's eight

rowing team, and we will take you on a tour of the Athletes' Village.

After a second gripping night in the Aquatics Centre, we are

starting with swimming. It was not quite the golden feeling of Beijing,

but Rebecca Adlington gave the home crowd plenty to cheer. All of the

crowd waiting to receive the defending Olympic champion, the

world record holder, Betty Addington.

Dominance when it from Camille Muffat. I cannot see anything else

happening. Those two women in the centre have gone out very fast

400 metres freestyle. Leading at the moment is the French athlete,

Camille Muffat. Coming back strongly is Allison Schmitt and

Rebecca Adlington going well at the bottom. She is starting to move

into the bronze medal position. Come on! This is not over. At the

last 15 metres. Bronze in the white hat is Allison Schmitt, getting the

silver. Gold to Camille Muffat. And at the bronze goes to Rebecca

Adlington! I am so proud that I have got a medal at a home Games.

Not many people can say that. The crowd are amazing. This is what I

wanted. This is what gets us from 4th to third and on to that podium.

That was Rebecca Adlington immediately after her swim last

night. Mark Foster, you were in the Aquatics Centre to see that happen.

She did an amazing time. At it was fantastic. She was faster than she

was in Beijing four years ago. There is so much as expectation on

baccy. It was a huge surprise that she won gold for in Beijing. We

knew it was going to be between her and Allison Schmitt and Camille

Muffat. Everybody was hoping and praying she could do the same thing

again. She was on the outside, doing her own race, in a sense. You

have to remember that her main event is the 800 metres freestyle.

To pick up a medal in that was a great moment for her. She has a few

days to get ready for the event that she really loves. Yes, the 800,

twice the distance. There is only two people, Rebecca Adlington and

Lotte Friis, who came behind her in that race. All her training is

geared to the 800 metres freestyle. It meant so much to her, with the

emotion coming out of her face, getting that medal at the Home

Games, and it is not a main event. It is her second event. I was

struck by every slimer. Every single one said that the crowd made

a huge difference. -- swimmer. it does make a huge difference. I

have been through three decades, but seeing the cool cats coming out,

and then they hear the roaring and they know it is for them, they

start to smile and you see the energy going through them. The

nerves turn into excitement. What can I do? What is possible for my

home crowd? I have been too many championships and when you hear

that noise, you try to say it is for you in your head, but when you

know it is for you, I wish that I was on the blocks again. I am sure

you do. The crowds are back at the Aquatics Centre because there are

more heats coming up. What are you looking out for? Women's 200

freestyle, 200 medley, Hannah Miley in the 200 medley goes again.

Michael Phelps is going in his favourite event, the 200 metre

butterfly. People are pinning a medal on him but on the back of the

400 when he came 4th and everybody was surprised, well, we were not

surprised he did not beat Ryan Lochte but it was not great at the

same time. Can you bounce back? When you see the 200 metres

freestyle, we have a good chance of getting a medal. We have to see how

the two girls go through. Caitlin McClatchey had the great freestyler.

It will be interesting. -- had a great freestyle. We have got a

fantastic view of the Olympic Park and inside his Clare Balding and

somebody who knows Rebecca Adlington very well.

Yes, Sharon. It is mayhem in the pool because there are so many

swimmers. What will Betty be doing? -- Rebecca Adlington be doing?

will be recovering. It is quite hard to go to sleep after

everything that happened last night. That medal will be under her pillow

and she will be checking it everyone's -- every once in a while.

You become fixated on slip but that is so difficult when your brain is

turning over on you and you are thinking about it. She will have

had to do a drug test, media calls, so today will be reflection,

resting, but because the 800 is the most important race for her,

focusing on that directly. She will get in the pool today. Absolutely.

She will probably do a couple of hours, at 7000 metres, fairly

steady, like you do! I can do that in my sleep! Ian Thorpe was talking

about getting back in the pool. He said he wanted to get back into

training was because it gave him passive thinking in the pool is one

place where your brain can rest while your body is doing the work.

You say that because it is so true but the pool is very busy at the

moment. In terms of what we are going to see tonight, we have got

the heats to go through yet. Hannah Miley, she is better at the longer

distance, but I am hoping that the energy created by Rebecca will

spread around the other swimmers and we will see them performing

above expectation. Yes, Hannah Miley is tiny in relation to other

swimmers. We are normally very tall. The 200, it generally you have to

be very tall and strong, which is why she specialises in the 400

metres. It will be a tall order. She is capable of making the final

but she has to have a really good morning swim. Those that have

already qualified for the final, Gemma Spofforth in the 400 metres

backstroke and Liam Tancock in the 50 metres backstroke. He goes over

100 tonight. It is hotting up in the Aquatics

Centre, thank you. It is not just about the swimming today because

Tom Daley is heading for the diving board before the first time in

London 2012. He is alongside Pete Waterfield in a synchronised ten-

metre platform final. After living four years in the media spotlight,

will it be the 18 year-old from Devon taking centre-stage?

From a height of 10 metres, it takes Tom Daley about 1.6 seconds

to hit the water. That is not a lot of time to make out what he does.

He is judged by those who know diving inside out and upside down

at normal speed. But for the rest of us, he has to be slowed down.

Only then do all the twists and turns of his life reveal themselves.

There is a sort of distortion to how we see the world of Tom Daley.

From the moment he looked up at the age of seven at that platform high

above Central Park pool in his home city of Plymouth and told his

father that up there was why he wanted to climb, ever since then he

has been this prodigy, falling gracefully, this one did child,

unable to escape analysis and scrutiny. -- wonder child. He began

to make an impact in international competition at the age of nine. He

was bullied at school. He went to the Beijing Olympics at the age of

14. Brilliant! A spat with his partner, Blake Aldridge, in a

synchronised event, became public knowledge. He became individual

World Champion at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Yes! Come

Commonwealth Games and to won gold in the 10 metres synchronised with

Max Bruch. Rob, his companion, his film maker, his best mate his

father, aged 40, dived of a brain tumour. This year Tom Daley won the

individual platform at Eindhoven. His coach criticised him for

overdoing his media and commercial activities. In Mexico, he won the

last leg of the world series before the Olympics, plus bronze in the

synchronised with Pete Waterfield. But can he beat his arch-rival from

China in London? The twists and turns of being Tom Daley. Perhaps

we will never see him as he truly is at normal speed and we should

only worry that he does not go the way of some of the child stars, and

fall. But falling is what Tom Daley does and perhaps how we see him is

no more distorted than how he sees the world, from the hand stand on

the edge of the platform 10 metres up there. Perhaps we should simply

enjoy young Tom Daley and all that he does while it lasts. I think I

was nine when I drew this. It is meet doing a handstand in the

Olympics in London 2012. -- it is me. All 1.6 seconds of it.

Tom Daley, one of the people we will be looking out for at the

Olympics. His individual event does not happen until a week on Friday

so he will be competing throughout the Games. Mark Foster was in the

same team as him during the Beijing Games. Yes. In the aquatics, and

all championships, synchronised swimming and diving altogether. But

at this multi-sport event, the tower blocks will be full of

anything from athletes, swimmers and divers, and we hang around

together because it is wanting. I remember in Beijing going out for

the opening ceremony and seeing Tom Daley, this little 14 year-old, and

he was Little, and how much media coverage he got and how much

expectation was on his shoulders. When we have seen the death of his

father, it was frightening what was going on, but how he dealt with it,

how mature, World Champion at 15, that is no mean feat. He is wise

beyond his years. Absolutely. And in his event, throwing yourself off

a 10 metre diving board and hitting a mortar at 30 mph, I have jumped

off a 10 metre diving board and it hurts! -- hitting the water. It is

scary. And if anything goes wrong, you wipe out. Lots of pressure but

if anyone can do it, he can. He has been the poster boy of London 2012.

There is so much expectation on him, like Rebecca Adlington. It is not a

fun event for them, but they have a real shot of the medal in the

Tom Daley's partner in the synchro diving is Pete Waterfield. His

Olympic career goes further back. And, in fact, it was watching him

dive at Athens in 2004 that convinced Tom he should become a

diver. Clare's been speaking to a man who used to share the platforms

with Pete Waterfield, and is now COMMENTATOR: I love the way they

came out of that. They are Britain's first silver

medal in diving for up 80 years. We were together as a synchro

pairing for 15 years. This is his 4th Olympic Games. The pairing is a

relatively new one. Now, they are evenly matched with their strength,

they are a formidable team. Who can hold their nerve. You might say the

wrong thing to the person at the wrong time. It is the relationship,

to know when to stand back. Their performance is getting better, they

What you think about the quality and difficulty of the dives?

diving, you get the scores from the judge multiplied by the degree of

difficulty. Every single dive accounts, so it is about

consistency. A slight mistake could be it. It is a straight final. Six

dives. You know Tom Daley extremely well. We all know he has dealt with

the death of his father, how impressed have you been with how he

has focused on his training? It has always been his strength, dealing

with what ever life throws at him, success at an early age, he handles

it in a mature age which is why he is such an inspiration to everybody.

His second Olympic Games. Two chances at a medal, strong medal

chances. They compete in the individual event as well, as

competitors. Realistic hopes in the synchro? They can win a medal.

There are seven of teams. What an exciting contest.

3pm is when it happens. Pete Waterfield has had an

interesting and long career. silver medal from Athens eight

years ago. He has had a lot of injuries. The reason Leon Best

retired was because of back and shoulder injury. If you get it

wrong, it can hurt an awful lot. You have training, and you have to

look after yourself. With Leon Best giving up, Peter lost his main

diving partner. This has made the perfect pair. Age and youth as it

were. You can see how passionate Leon Best is about them. We will

see them in action later. We've been here three days,

enjoying this view of the Olympic Park. But we thought it was about

time we gave you a bit more of a tour of the place. Just on the edge

of the park is the Athletes' Village. So what is the experience

of staying there like? Sonali Shah has been shown around by Great

Britain hockey defender Dan Fox, just ahead of his team's opening

Hello, nice to meet you. Nice to Welcome to my bedroom. Three of us

in here, a couple of good luck cards, books. Teddy bears. All very

masculine! And we have a great view of the park. How did you get this

room? Is this a reminder of being a student again? A I got in trouble

yesterday, the cleaners and tidied up. Are there any parties?

Whereas the bathroom? If it is this way. A shower. Water everywhere.

What more can you ask for. Show us the living room. With none of us in

here, you cannot swing a cat. We And here, these are for you are in

All of this decking makes me feel on holiday. This is your first

Olympics, do first Olympics village, do first impression? It is Poland,

the food hall is amazing, incredible. From all around the

world. You can eat as much as you You are sharing a square with a lot

of other countries, are you making friends? I requested Sweden and

Denmark! Any particular reason? get on very well, don't tell my

girlfriend! Then you for showing me Dan Fox and the hockey team will be

in action against Argentina live on BBC Three tonight, from 7pm, hoping

to emulate Britain's women who got off to a great start with a 4-0 win

For what is Fife like in the Athletes' Village? That done a halt

is immense, food from all over the Games rooms, laundry services, you

can get your hair cut. It is like a mini village. People put their flag

outside so that people know where they are. And to find themselves on

their way back. How does it work with room sharing,

did you always share with another swimmer. You always have a room

mate. You can choose. Within the team, everybody gets on anyway. You

will spend probably fool weeks with them. We go on training camps

together. You do have a bond, you have swing in common -- swimming in

We were told off 12 years ago for mentioning parties because the

swimming is over in the first week. Do they sit inside? And wait for

the rest of the Olympics to finish? They let their hair done. As long

as they respect everyone else, which they do. The athletes start

action in the week number two. Unfortunately they don't get to

enjoy it as much as the swimmers. We have live rowing and swimming

coming up here on BBC One this morning. But if you do have to head

off to work, there's plenty of ways you can keep across our Olympic

coverage. The latest choice of viewing includes badminton on BBC

Three at the moment. With archery about to get underway on the

channel shortly. Via the red button, there's some

hockey action underway, with South Korea taking on New Zealand.

And also available, women's basketball, as Croatia play China.

If we can't tempt you with those, don't forget that all 24 streams

are available via the BBC website. Every sport, every session, every

day. Now it's time to head over to Eton

Dorney for the first time today. Great Britain's rowers have made a

very good start over the last couple of days. Today, the men's

four are on the water for the first time. John Inverdale is there,

alongside a man who knows a thing or two about that particular boat.

Good morning, it is one of those good to be alive mornings,

fantastic warm sun, packed stands, in readiness for the last two

British teams hitting the water today, Katherine Grainger and Anna

Watkins in the women's doubles gold. And the men, they are conscious of

the legacy. Something to aim at. The history books always dictate.

My last Olympics was in this, but yes, we have won the Olympics three

times running. And three are reigning Olympic champions in this

category. But actually, the Australians are favourite.

Something we overlook. We have to get our ambitions in perspective.

There are certain other British boats which have a better

opportunity. You would have to put them at a slight disadvantage with

the Australians. The Brits have one of, the Australians have won. In

conditions like this. I would say the Australians are a favourite.

Though the Australians and British art in action at 11am. There are

four British boats on the water, the men's eight in the repechage,

after they were beaten by the Germans. They have had an up and

down few months. The coach has been keeping a video diary over the past

nine months. Here is the inside story of the men's eight.

On and off the water, the most exciting of races. A very different

people led by one cox. A story of our 22 of the season. It starts

inside a gym. Everyone needs to get as fit as they can. The pressure is

constant. Thoughts of the Olympics are never far away. For it is

Christmas Day 2011. Isn't it? 6 am. We are having a nice little play

before everyone else gets up. I couldn't have put in a better

start to the Olympic year. There's only 200 days left. I am trying not

to count. 2012 arise and the head off to South Africa. But not

To be honest, the Olympic year has not got off to the best start. When

in Harley Street seeing a back specialist. The rest of the team

got off to South Africa for the training camp and I was left behind.

Were loads of us that have made the camp, things do not get any easier.

When we first started, the load was so much bigger than I was used to.

I remember what would now be considered standard days, not big

days, I would sit on the sofa and crash. Consuming more food than

average. 5000 eggs. Then time for the final trials, friends racing

against friends for a place in Team GB. For some it will be good news,

for the others, the end of a dream. At the six months behind closed

doors, the eight is finally announced with new faces and old. -

- after six months. We are at our first training camp in Italy just

after the crew was formed. It final preparations are made. For some of

us these are milestone moments. Happy birthday to you! Today I am

40. No big meal, no drinking, lots of sleep and I might even have

forced myself into the bath. That is brilliant! That is the Tour's I

have made and I am pretty happy with it. -- the choice. Only three

World Cups before the Games. Dan is ruled out with a bad back, and it

is a late change and we are frustrated. Without our stroke, we

head to Belgrade wanting to make a statement and we nearly did.

Another change. Things go better. We are getting closer, but not

quite there. And then to Munich. It is our last chance to prove we can

challenge for that gold medal in London. Polar and get gold,

Australia gets silver and huge disappointment for the bronze medal

for Great Britain. -- opponent gets We have just been smashed by people

that are not even that good. In the Austrian Alps, a good place for

hard work at altitude. Some honest words among the crew. But at least

there is some good news. It feels good to be finally coming away with

us again? Of course. Stan is back in the boat. He is the youngest

member but his return has put a As the days countdown towards

London, we swapped the snow-capped mountains for the Portuguese

sunshine. The training that we have done with this line dies is --

these nine guys is better than anything we have done before and we

cannot shy away that it could be good enough to win. The eight that

we have picked are the eight best to race in this boat. We have not

had the perfect season. It is not the season we would have asked for.

When it comes to the Olympics, you only have to win one race to beat

the Olympic champion and that is the final. That is definitely

achievable. Some fantastic for touch. Is that promotion or

relegation? He is the cox, not the coach.

People are always honest off camera, and everybody always talks about

the sacrifices. But it is a choice, really. It is. I made lots of

sacrifice is 325 years of international rowing. I do not

class them as sacrifices, that is what I do. It is what you want to

do and why you want to be. Would I have liked to go out clubbing a few

times? Probably. The reality is that on days like this, having the

chance to win Olympic medals, you have to put in that commitment. If

you think about the people that have put in commitment to their day

at work, it may not be as glamorous but you need to put it into get the

result. Greg Searle was integral to that piece and he is a key member

of the crew. We are going to talk about him over the next few days.

To come back at the age of 40 when you have not been very

competitively for some time, how much of an achievement is it to be

in the boat in the first place and what if he got a medal? In his day,

he was one of the best rowers in the world. He was outstanding. In

some ways, you can say that he has underperformed with an Olympic gold

medal and an Olympic bronze medal. To be out of the sport for 10 years,

to come back and win silver, repeat that the following year and then to

be here at the Olympics, if you look at his times and performance

so far, you would put our guys down took win silver. I think they can

win a medal. I think they can overturn the Germans on Wednesday.

In turns of medals, Greg Searle is in silver medal position when it

comes to the potential fairy-tale at the rare ring. In the gold medal

position undoubtedly is Katherine Grainger. Silver medal at Athens

and Beijing and desperately hoping to win her first gold medal at Eton

Dorney. When I started rowing at university I was really not very

good at all. I loved it, great fun, but there was never the sense that

I was destined for great things. I did not start rowing thinking I

would be an Olympic athlete. I just started because it was a great

thing to do, very sociable and a great bunch of people and I loved

it. There were always constant goals being set, moving on, moving

on. I have probably learnt that everybody is capable of so much

more than they know. People can set really high, ambitious goals, and

just going on that journey to achieve them, they will learn so

much about themselves and do things they never thought were possible.

We have been in a good place pretty much since we got the boat together.

It is very exciting to be in it. We have been hugely successful, never

beaten, we are the crew to go out and beat. Especially on your home

soil, everybody wants that. I think we have but the people that have

gone before us on pedestals and there have always been role-models

and people to look up to. People do not set out to be that successful,

but in pursuit of excellence in other ways, it you realise you are

then at that standard and you have become somebody that can show

people what can be done and it is a great journey to be on.

The next stage of that will be at 10:20am this morning, the first

race. If I turn to my left, they should be coming out of the boat

yard. Matthew Pinsent is waiting for them shall -- for them.

It is the first time a live television camera has been in a

boating area. It is a real privilege to be here. You can see

the dark blue tights and white T- shirts, Katherine Grainger and Anna

Watkins and their coach, just about to take to the water for their race.

You can see the bird tracks for of the cruise over there. -- boat to

racks for all of the crus. And over there, the rest area where they

chill out. If they can, they pick up their boat, it down the

gangplank, on to the pontoon and on to the London 2012 bridge into the

warm up late. It goes all the way back to the start. You can see in

the distance, two kilometres away, the start line of the Olympic

course. They raced down in this direction in front of that

fantastic crowd, the chance to race for an Olympic medal. It is the

first time that we have been allowed to have accrued down by the

boat yard. Another innovation has been that amazing camera that

sweeps down the course. We will head down to the start, because the

women's quad is there, the first of four boats in action over the next

hour and a half. Dan Topolski and Garry Herbert, good morning. Good

morning. We are really waiting for this. Anticipation has been

building all morning around the course as friends and family come

up to this side of it, the grandstand. A big race for Great

Britain, in lane number one. This is the repechage, the second

opportunity to get through to the green light, so we are racing now

in the repechage of the women's quad sculls. At the top of the

picture, Great Britain, New Zealand in two, Australia in three, United

States in four, Poland in five, China is six. It is incredible that

China are 6th, because they are the defending Olympic champions. They

did not come through their heat and they have to get through the hard

way. Lane six, the Olympic champions, with three of the boat

that beat Katherine Grainger in Beijing in 2008. In that crew, two

of the British crew currently racing in lane number one. Great

Britain in low number one and the Lane number one. The repechage is

the race of death. The first four will get through to the final.

Already in lane number one, watched the Bowers -- Great Britain are

starting to slip back. Great Britain have been dominant for such

a long time. We have got two Olympic silver medallists back in

the boat. You would expect them to be up here but they will find it

very tough to get back against these very competitive quads.

like that with a quarter of the race down, 1500 to go, it is

imperative that the British crew get back into the race. They are in

5th position with Australia racing through in first. Four will go

through to the main final, two will go out. Great Britain must not be

one of the two that go out but at the moment they are. The Australian

crew were 4th at the World Championships last year. The

British were 7th, winning the B final. They have strengthened this

year. Debbie Flood coming back into the boat. France's Horton in the

middle of that British court. -- Frances Houghton. Fabulous races,

they just need to move it on. The former World Champion from 2010 is

in the boat. No reason why they cannot get a month the mix. They

are slipping back into 6th. It is hard to understand. In that boat,

we have two the Libyans from four years ago who have been injured. --

a Olympians. It is immensely depressing for them. Australia

looking strong and collected as they pick up the water with their

skull tips. They pick it up and drive it through with the leg drive

and they look very relaxed and sure to qualify. We are at the critical

stage of the race for Great Britain. They go through the halfway mark.

They slip back into 6th. 1000 to go. If it stays like this, Great

Britain will not qualify for the Olympic final. The race leader's at

champions, in lane number six. China now making a move into third

position. The British, we know they have a sprint, when it all comes

together they race and they know how to race and they are going to

have to do that now if they have any chance of surviving in this

race. It is critical. There was a signed just then. They seemed to

galvanise and realise the position. Poland have slipped back. New

Zealand are still there. They are not going to catch China and the

United States and Australia, so they are racing Poland and New

Zealand for 4th place. USA is the world silver medallist from last

year. China still pushing on. These boats are rising up. We need

fireworks and we need them now. 500 to go. Great Britain are moving. It

will be a mad dash for the line. The British have moved from 6th up

to six. They are hunting China. -- up to 5th. They can do it but they

need a massive race. They are not going to catch Australia and United

States. There is a crack in the New Zealand boat. Great Britain now in

4th place. That was a very timely crack from New Zealand. That has

put them in last place and Great Britain have taken the opportunity

and pushed through. The British crew have been given a get out of

jail card on that. Coming up hard in a number one. Out front, the

United States of America, pushing on hard. They have been pushed hard

Australia and the United States of America, out in front. Here come

the British, charging to the line. This is for qualification spot.

have moved up into third place. 40 strokes a minute, closing in on

the two leading crews. USA, Australia. The British against the

position, that has been a fabulous last two hundred metres, a driver

for the line. They were definitely looking as if they would qualify at

the end. They know they still need a lot of work if they are to get

into the medals but they know they can do that.

Paul told New Zealand, they must have broken something in their boat,

I think that may kick-start them into doing a little bit more as we

The Chinese probably would have gone out, but shows you what field

it is, with New Zealand. Hopefully, the grant will help to

stir them. They need to be mentally strong. In the second half, we saw

that. If they hadn't actually qualified,

would that have any bearing on team morale? I do not think so. Because

they haven't been performing since they had been in this unit, they

didn't qualify for the final at the World Championships last year. So a

think that the team has accepted if they don't do very well it is not a

surprise. We all work two percentage times what each boat is

they stand. That was a great start. Here we go

with the men's eight. There is a lot at stake. One of the great

spectacles of any Olympic regatta, any Olympic Games. Were there is a

lot at stake. They know suddenly for one boat they will not be

involved in the grand showdown on finals when the men's eight final

will be. A huge chair -- cheer. For they have a great chance. We

have an opportunity to do something to worry the Germans. I expect our

team to win this but I am hoping they will do something a little bit

special in the first 1000, to set themselves up for Wednesday.

Qualification is not a problem, it is how they do it.

We saw that video diary, all that the men's eight, six off the start,

only four will qualify for the final. Great Britain have been

playing No. 4. Canada, the defending Olympic champions, lane

one. Poland in lane two. Australia beat Great Britain in Munich, the

last World Cup regatta. They are in lane three. Great Britain in a lane

four. This is an important race for Great Britain from a technical and

race for approach. They have gone out fast. They need to be quick out

of 500. If they have any chance of chasing Germany who are already in

the finals, they need to lead. We expect Britain to win this but they

need for themselves to laid down a lace -- a race plan. They have only

really been together for six weeks. Louloudis was injured. He hasn't

raced with the group bought season, in any of the World Cup. It was an

act of faith to put him in the stroke seat, untried.

They us is going to plan. Remember, it is about speed in the first 500,

and 1000. Their history of an Olympic gold medal in this event

has always been that the leader at 500 and at 1000 has always gone on

to win. The German group are through to the final, we know they

are quick, they go like a rocket and out of the start. Right now,

they are doing what they need to do, get out quick. It will hurt at this

stage, they need to keep pushing on. Can a debt in lane one. Great

Britain looking very smooth. -- Canada in lane one. They are at the

Olympic champions. They were humiliated and it -- it in the

first heat. Easing their way alongside the British. They are in

cruising mode, moving nicely, the flexibility to sprint further down

the track when they need to. Up to the halfway mark, 1000 to go.

through to the final. It is imperative from a psychological

point of view that Great Britain won this race. They will have to

win it. It will give them a good lane alongside Germany or the

United States who won the first heats. 12 years ago, when Great

Britain won in Sydney, they did it the hard way, they didn't have a

great heat, they had to fight through the repechage. Then they

flew into the final. Louloudis was at Eton College, who built this

rowing course and gave it to the Olympics. They will be very proud

of him as they lead this strong field through to the 1,500 metre

mark. Greg Searle, 40, 20 years on since he won a gold medal with you,

them, they get on so well. Speed now, two of birds of a length --

two thirds of a length. The British will have to be aware that Canada

will come back at them and will attack them harder. The Canadians

are going for a win. Watch out also for Australia in May number three,

they humiliated Great Britain in Munich six weeks ago. Here come the

Australia, the Olympic champions Canada. Surely Great Britain have

done enough to win this. 36 strokes a minute, still room for them to

sprint on. They are in a good position. Canada, 38 strokes a

minute, 39 strokes a minute. Canadians are driving, they can

sense blood. The British are holding on by the skin of their

Great Britain have done a job well final. What a great performance

from Great Britain, they to get right from the start, what a fight

back from Canada. Olympic champion at stuff. Ukraine, have right out

of it. Very pleasing for Great Britain. They looked the part, that

is another step forward. They set out to do something in the first

1000 metres. Then, they cruised home. A fantastic journey for Greg

Searle and his friends. We are now down to one race. They are through

to the final. Surely, 20 years on, you can't do it again, another gold

medal? Unbeaten world champions who have qualified already. And, the

United States. They won the opening heat and they looked outstanding.

We haven't seen them much at all. They have a very good crew. That

was an outstanding performance from look around, a job well done. They

have learned to get out quick. As we look down, we can get

How excited was that? Garry Herbert doesn't get excited! -- does get

excited! At the end, our great was slower. They made their point in

the first half. That is mentally what they were going to do.

Everyone was getting excited. It is an exciting race. The reality is,

they wanted to make a point in the first 1000. That will give them

great confidence. Louloudis, he hasn't been racing all season. His

second race of the season. There are nine in the boat, Louloudis is

at the stroke seat. He determines the rhythm of the boat. He has had

no competition. In the repechage, people think of having another

chance. They lost against the best boat a couple of days ago, Germany.

It gives them a lot of time. Being in a situation watching a repechage,

it is hard, the Germans would have found that hard to watch. If they

were watching that, what would they have learnt from their rivals?

is not going to be easy. They have won every race they have been in

for the last four years. They will not have it all their own way, they

know how strong Great Britain is. Things that might not go their way.

Our team can have a surprise and the Germans will know that.

Two more to come this morning at Eton Dorney, at 10:50am. First, the

the official checks. The heel restraints, they hold the heel of

the Rolling chute into the boat. So have the worst should happen and

anyone should turn upside down, you can get away and swim from the boat.

Every rowing boat has to go through that safety precaution, even at the

Olympics. Their coach has been talking to them in the last few

minutes. Going through the race plan, I'm sure. I always found the

opening round of the Olympic Games quite a tough race. If you are

favourite, you know you should win, you know you can beat the

opposition, but it's always difficult. It's always difficult to

execute your plan properly. So the accreditation comes off, you don't

have to race with your accreditation on, that can go to

your coach. The balls go into the water. Alleyne number goes into the

slot and a GPS data transmitter as well. -- a lane that number. Then

they get into the boat. There's an identity check, a facial

recognition that one of the officials will come over and say,

yes, that's definitely you, Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins.

That is the end of the official interfering. They can then try and

ogres as best they can with the job in hand. -- they can try and focus

as best they can. They definitely can win this race. It's now a

matter of how they go and do it for Great Britain.

If we refer back to the women's quad race the 20 minutes or so ago,

when they were convinced something broke in the New Zealand boat, this

is effectively a Formula One rowing boat. There's a lot of technical

equipment in this, a lot of expertise has gone into its

formulation. There is always that concern, that's why it is so

important to have the back-up team to make sure everything is in

perfect condition and everything works before they hit the water.

There's quite a lot of adjustment and set up from that point of view.

Actually, they are very technically put together but are quite basic in

that whole process. It is the coach who will go through, clean the boat

down, give it a bit of Polish, I think Paul Thompson likes putting a

bit of vinegar on it to clean off all the grace from that side of it.

But there is very little that can go wrong with it. Probably what

happened in the women's quad is the blade got caught in the water and

the force of that then put so much pressure in the gate that you could

have moved the gate, and that was probably the breakage. What we have

internationally is the first 100m is a breakage rule. If something

breaks then, then you can have that replaced and start the race again.

Anything over that, that's it, you are out. Catherine and Anna Watkins

heading out, between here and there, is it a mental operation, just

getting yourself in the zone? is probably the easiest of the

whole of the preparation. It's something you've been out

practising day after day for the last two or three months, this is a

warm-up session before your main session. When you put your hands on

the boat and carry it down, that is when you are in your element.

You've practised and trained for it. What you can't practise is the

waiting around before that. The warm-up is something you feel quite

relaxed in. By last Olympics, I remember feeling quite laid back.

But it was hell until you put the boat on the water. They are on the

water when they race begins at 10:20am.

What a pleasure to watch the rowing this morning. Consistently strong

start from Britain's rowers at Eton Dorney. We will be back to see

Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins and the men's four, which is at

10:50am this morning. Press your red button if you want to watch the

Horse Guards Parade, after yesterday's success for Zara

Dampney and Shauna Mullin. And there is men and women's judo on

offer. Britain's Sarah Clark is in action. Table tennis as well. Paul

Drinkhall is in the second match on Table 1 later this morning, and

We are going to be heading to the swimming, because the heats for the

women's 200 metres freestyle are coming up. Ahead of that, Mark

Foster is with me. It's all about the women in this next part of what

is happening in the Aquatics Centre. Who should be watch out for?

Rebecca Turner and Kate were catchy. She was the world champion in 2006

in Melbourne, then she had a bit of a lull, but his back to her best

again. It's going to be a tall order because you have Schmitt,

Pellegrini, sauce drum up. A very tough field. Federica Pellegrini

was in action, how has she been looking so far? The 400 was not

good. She used to have the world record at 200, but is not

performing particularly well here at the moment. I don't know whether

she bogeys on the 400 or the 200, on the 400, because of the times

done this year, maybe she thought she couldn't win that and would

concentrate on the 200. For our two girls, it's a case of making it

through to the top 16, making it through to the semi-finals, getting

another swim and then making it through to the final. If you do

best times you will give yourself Not long to go until those heats

get under way. Let's join Clare Balding and Ian Thorpe. I hope

being is not missing the comfort of our studio too much. I think he

will survive. A after last night, being on the late programme, I'm

pretty happy to be out of the studio and into the action at the

pool. What have you got in your bag? I've got my swimming back. I

have my costumes and goggles and I am tempted to get in. Would they

let you? I know that their new manager, so I think I could

technically speaking in, but I wouldn't feel right doing that.

think that would be pretty immense. Obviously he is an Australian

swimming legend with five gold medals to his name, but we've seen

Dawn Fraser, who was one of the Australians who helped light the

flame in Sydney. She's an iconic swimmer in Australia. She is. The

first woman to ever win three gold medals in consecutive Olympic Games.

Incredible. One of the biggest supporters of the Australian team.

One of the things which is terribly interesting about swimming is the

fact that very small swimmers can compete against a very big swimmers.

In the first of the heats for the 200 metres freestyle, Missy

Franklin, 17-year-old from America. She is 6 ft 1. She has women size

13 feet. She has, as you have, the physical attributes that have to be

such an advantage. Advantage, yes. Overall, I'd say yes to it being an

advantage but what I find really interesting at the moment is when

we saw the more petite swimmers, when they are under water they get

off the war, they have a higher frequency of kick. What they are

doing is they're able to manipulated more like a dolphin

than the larger swimmers, that actually have to take a glide

through. Then of the bride they have to introduce a larger cake

that creates more resistance and the water. Although the biggest

swimmers get their power off the wall, the smallest swimmers are

trying to qualify for semi-finals. Rebecca Turner, 19-year-old drains

in Sheffield. She was in the relay team last year. She won the British

trials in this pole. There is Missy Franklin. She comes from Colorado

and is very conscious that she is trying to improve the mood in

Colorado after the shootings bear. She was asked about it in a press

conference and dealt with the questions extremely well. Good luck

to her, but also good luck to had. -- hat. Really difficult for

the commentators with all of those white hats. The only red had in the

field right at the top, on the left-hand side, is Rebecca Turner,

who won the British Championships on the 200 metres freestyle. She

swam really well there. I'd love to see her get out and really go. It

looks like she is going with Popova solid job. -- Missy Franklin.

Pellegrini didn't look good. I think she has been struggling in

this competition. She changed cultures three times in the last

Last year, she didn't swim Lisbet led of the American Relate. She did

a faster time leading off that we laid and Federica Pellegrini in the

next lane to her, closer to us, did to win the individual title on this.

starting to come through. Pellegrini is going to win it.

Second Franklin. Popova in third. Didn't look as smooth as she

normally can do, but I think that will help the confidence, for sure.

Not so good time wires. About four Turner. That will not be good

enough to make the semis. Some very fast swimmers still to come.

Franklin, looking quite tired in McClatchey Yngling two. But Camille

Muffat, the new champion from last night, she goes in four. For me,

she is the favourite in this 200 metres freestyle event. Allison

Schmitt, the fastest in the world this year, she goes in the next

heat. Lane five has withdrawn. Heemskerk of Holland has withdrawn.

She was the fastest qualifier into the final in the world

championships last year. She was in eased off a little bit. The Chinese

lady in six, Wang The. We haven't any information on these two

Chinese women. And 18-year-old Linlin 6, 20-year-old in lane seven.

No real form internationally on 200 the favourite for the final, she

has some work to do if she's going to be in the semi. She's starting

to work pretty hard. Bronte Barratt also working hard. Muffat starting

to come back through. Rangelova in crowd starting to lift her, a

catchy putting herself in top-three position. This is very good for

McClatchey because she was a little bit down on the 100, but she's

starting to come through. His super finish. She wins. The crowd has

gone absolutely nuts. Very good swim. To make the semi-final of the

world championships last year it should be fine. But Muffat didn't

find a way to go. A very happy lady. Well done. Muffat might have been

It is interesting in the mornings because metals are not being swum

for, but as far as this crowd are concerned, they've seen a British

winner. The noise! It's fantastic, but support the swimmers are

receiving. First, especially, even if it second or third, the crowd

roars. What did you think of Pellegrini, the defending champion,

the world record holder, and Miss E Franklin in their heat.

seafront and was quite disappointing this morning. She

didn't look as comfortable as we've seen her in the past. Pellegrini

hasn't been swimming the best in this competition. This will give

That was a lovely smile, I guess it big -- it is because of this noise.

Yes, the crowd has been fantastic. I saw them raising last night and

it was fantastic, such an inspiration, and I used that this

morning for top it is fantastic for you coming back into form now when

it matters. You had such a great Commonwealth Games and then a

difficult few years and now you're looking as good as you ever have.

lot of credit goes to my coach. I had a really tough few years with

illness and injury and I am starting to come back now. I hope I

can progress into the semi-finals and do a good job tonight.

looks so chuffed with that. We will be back in the pool later, we have

Joe Roebuck, Hannah Miley, Michael Phelps.

Because thank you. What a lovely result for British swimming. She

did fantastically well. It was absolutely brilliant. Becky Turner

went first and she is probably in the 11th or 12th place at the

moment. The semi-finals his top 16. Five heats this morning, day... In

total about 40 swimmers and 16 will progress. If it is 400 of longer,

it goes to a straight final. McLetchie looked great there. But

she will make it through to the semi-finals. -- McClatchey. The

medals are not given out until the finals, but she is back to her best.

She was brilliant six years ago in the Commonwealth Games. She has

more experience now. Becky Turner, her first Games, and she is gaining

a lot of experience. A lot of swimmers in the British squad are

experiencing their first Olympics. We have a squad of 44 swimmers and

for 24 of them, it is their first Olympics. Seven Or in their third

Olympic Games. But the nice thing is, because it is one team and they

train together, there are different training camps throughout the --

throughout the year, they spend a lot of time together. It is

important that some of the more senior swimmers do well because for

the younger ones... When I was first in the team, Adrian Moorhouse

was in the team. As soon as your big dog does well, you get a lot of

strength from it. We are just hearing that Rebecca Turner has not

made it through to the semi-final. This is that whole process,

regardless of how they finished, you have to look at the overall

picture. It was a strong field. On paper, she was going to struggle to

make the top 16, but she had a decent swim. It is one of those

things, or when it comes to a championship, everybody expects you

to do your best times and in some cases you need that to progress.

That experience she gained there, first big major international meet,

in front of 17,000 people, it is daunting. We will get the detail

from Clare Balding later. Let's go straight back to Eton Dorney

because more of that rowing action is coming up.

Talking about the big dogs of the pool, the big dogs in the women's

rowing team are about to compete for the first time. Grange and

Watkins. How frustrating is it that they have been waiting and waiting

while some of its crews have had two races? It is not very nice, you

want to get out there and get a feel of the water and the

atmosphere. Sitting around is not very nice. But this is their time.

In terms of this race, is it about the time, the performance, what is

it? For our very, very relaxed a couple of days ago when I spoke to

them. They were talking about if the conditions were right, they

would not mind taking the Olympic record. It is in their grasp in

record. It is in their grasp in this heat. There they are. Let's

join the commentators. It has been a remarkable story for

Katherine Grainger. Since 1997, when she was in the women's eight

and getting a bronze medal, what a journey. She is now only two races

have jumped out of the start. A fabulous combination. They have

dominated this event over the last two years. They were first in the

2010 World Championships. Undefeated throughout the 2012

World Cup campaign. Right at the end, in that last World Cup in

Munich, up comes Australia putting together a quick crew. They are in

the next heat. It is not a foregone conclusion that Watkins and

Grainger will win this. The first two to qualify through to the final.

The British really have been sitting around for a number of days

so they will be eager to get all of those nerves out of the system.

They really have opened up a lead now from the start. New Zealand

tracking them a bit, but they have sprung out and now they will settle

into a good race pace. They will be glad to be on the course, opening

race. For Katherine Grainger, three times an Olympic silver medallist.

She had to try to make that a gold medal at her closing race if after

Three-quarters of a length up. The crowd are watching this on a

massive screen. Every time we see a clip of the British double, there's

a massive roar of applause. A steely look of determination from

Katherine Grainger. She nearly retired after that third silver

medal, which was such a disappointment in Beijing. She

thought she had had enough. But she was only 33. She just decided to

give it a go as a single and see whether there's a problem with

herself. She did so well and got a silver medal in the Silk -- single

sculls. She found that this combination with Anna Watkins was

made in heaven. It is a lovely combination. They are a great

double and a row with such strength and fluidity. New Zealand going

through the picture. Third at the World Championships last year. The

Czech Republic, Antosova sisters, they were 6th last year. We have

China in this line-up. None of these crews have come anywhere near

challenging the British dominance in this event over the last two

years. He for the previous Olympiad, New Zealand were dominant as well.

This is even more so. And even more dominant combination. Australia,

with Kim Crow having qualified for the single scull and the double

scull, she is doing both events, she is going to be the biggest

challenge in this event, probably. A nice tailwind as Katherine

Grainger and Anna Watkins have opened up a significant amount of

clear water over the chasing pack being led by New Zealand. We would

expect this, but for them it is more about putting in a good

performance over the whole course. They are keeping it up. They are

using the tail wind and not necessarily going for the world

record, but they want to lay down a marker. A significant statement to

say, if you're going to win, it will need an extraordinary

performance. This is great, this is fantastic. 35 strokes a minute,

that is keeping the pressure on. I would suspect they just want to lay

down a pretty important quick time. The camera is running right down

the course above the athletes. This is strong, this is confident. Just

pushing their legs and feet, driving the body back. It is a good,

strong, very effective stroke. Very well trained by Paul Thompson,

their coach. Katherine Grainger, 36 sculling. On the far side you've

got Paul Thompson, their coach, coming down. Look at the crowd as

we come up towards the 1,500m mark. 500 to go now. They have opened up

a significant gap. That is the expectation. Great Britain off

through. They are safely through 1,500, but they are using the tail

wind and pushing it along. Trying to make sure they keep their

distance. As she has done from the very first stroke, look at the

expression on Katherine Grainger. A woman on a mission. I can read out

her history of rowing, six World Rowing Championship gold medals,

three Olympic silver medals, all of which are completely irrelevant.

She is craving that last elusive medal that is not yet in the

collection, the Olympic gold medal. They are doing everything in his

opening heat to lay down a marker and say they are the ones to beat.

It will only be Australia who come out in the next heat that will get

anywhere near them. An impressive start from Granger and Watkins of

Great Britain. Nobody either side of them. An adoring crowd as they

come up to the last few hundred metres. They took a quick glance to

the right to look at the big screen. Katherine Grainger and her partner

Anna Watkins getting the biggest roar and appreciation from the

crowd. She has such a following and rightly so. A wonderful combination,

a fantastic person. There's now only one race to go, the Olympic

final. They've done absolutely everything asked of them. The crowd

are on their feet. The flags are going mad. Katherine Grainger and

Anna Watkins are into the Olympic final. One race remaining, that's

it. All focused on that. Even at 33 strokes a minute, without actually

having to race really hard, they produced the fastest Olympic time

ever. Totally dominant, fantastic performance and they got what they

wanted. That is laying down a very good market. Only two cruise to go

through. That is the second of the two big events, the women's pair

straight through qualifying for their final, joined by the women's

double. The two top women's boats qualifying for the Olympic final.

It is looking good in the women's team. Paul Thompson, the chief

coach. Meerkat the glorious pictures as the sun comes down on

Eton Dorney this morning. -- look at. They just looks so, so good.

When they could have just sat back, when they knew the race was won,

they wanted more. That is what the appreciation of his home crowd does.

They say thank you. Anna Watkins and Katherine Grainger from Great

Britain, and New Zealand, through to the Olympic final. An Olympic

to the Olympic final. An Olympic best time, not bad. At that almost

felt like we were watching a great racehorse that was just cantering.

They seemed so relaxed last week when I saw them. They were ready.

They were talking about Olympic records in the heats if they had

the right conditions. They looked so relaxed and snood, probably the

best I have ever seen them skull. - - relaxed and smooth. The first

silver medal was a surprise. The second one was where they should

have finished. The third one was the disappointment because they

were joint favourites. This one they are favourites for. Fay are

looking a class above. -- they are. One more race for Katherine

Grainger in her career. We have one more race feature in a British crew

here, the men's four. Let's go back to the boatyard.

The last few seconds on the pontoon. Andy Hodge owned -- and Alex

Gregory in the boat, joined by a heat and Tom - joined by Peter and

Tom. Jurgen Rober and never says Now it is their moment to start

their Olympic campaign 2012. As the Garry Herbert phrase goes, we are

An awful lot of expectation on them. They're big enough to take that.

Yes, they know what they're capable of doing. There are really two

boats in this event, the Australians and themselves. The

Australians are probably the better technicians and our boat has a bit

more power in it. It comes down to who can produce it. We have the

Australian's first and then the Great Britain team after that. We

are back foot two more races at Eton on this fantastic morning.

There are worse ways of starting a mandate than this!

It is looking glorious bear, as it is at the Olympic Park. We will be

back for the rowing at about 10:50am. We've had news of who has

qualified so far in the heats that have taken place already, so let's

head back to Clare Balding. Some disappointment for Rebecca Turner.

Even more upsetting when you realise she will be missed out...

She will be lining up tonight. The big challenge is to be one of the

top eight. It is done on time rather than where you finish in the

semis, which is difficult because it's not about beating her next

door, it's about going as fast as you can. Absolutely. And we've seen

too many people at this competition is out by a smallest fraction.

People who were expected to make finals will finish in one of those

outside lanes, which mostly you don't want to be in. She will have

to have a tops win tonight to make it through to the final. Now we

look at the men's 200 metres butterfly. Joe Roebuck for Great

quickly, he's up in lane three with a green hat. Joe Roebuck in lane

Roebuck in the red cap, two from the top. Looking a little sluggish

out a little bit quickly and not pacing it well. I can't imagine he

looks like he is kicking someone. He does the second kick slightly

early. There are two kicks in butterfly, you kick when you go in

and then when you push your arms Roebuck. Stjepanovic still holding

on. I think he is playing into the going to be hurting like something

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

time in these heats. It will just set you back. Stjepanovic putting

in the effort all the way through. That is not going to be good enough

for Joe Roebuck. The big dog in the men's 200 metres butterfly is the

defending champion, Michael Phelps, the world record holder. Tell me

about the way he swims butterfly, because there's something quite

interesting. I like seeing my goals Wim fly best when his face is

facing down. So when he takes a breath, he believes towards the

water. He comes out and takes a breath here, rather than lifting

his head up like this. He actually has a straight spine and bouncers

on top of the water. This is when he's at his very best. I noticed in

the 400 the other night that he was lifting his head slightly more than

I have seen him do of late. I'll be interested in this 200 fly to see

how he looks. To see if he has his The other conflict in this heat is

that Phelps is up against Tyler that Phelps is up against Tyler

Clary. He is his American team-mate who made the mistake of questioning

Phelps' achievements, saying he has done it all on talent and that he

hasn't had to train hard. Phelps was asked about this and he said,

yeah, Tyler came and sat on my bed and apologised. Phelps went, you

know, it doesn't really matter. Also lining up in this heat,

Roberto Pavoni from Great Britain. What an amazing thing to be in a

seven. He won the British trials in the 400 and was second on the 200

fly up. But he's got a really good chance of getting through to the

semi-final here. It's not been that quick so far at Phelps, well, he

tends to do just enough in the seats. Back in Athens, even in the

semi-final, that was very interesting with Great Britain's

Stephen Parry. I think you qualified faster than Phelps for

the final. Phelps in the middle. Doing enough. Pavoni, two from the

left. He was born and brought up about 20 minutes from here even

though he trains in Loughborough I expect him to start going. The

big guys tend to go at halfway. He's going well, but also going

well is Tyler Clary. Clary now leading Michael Phelps. It is only

a heat. All he has to do is make it through to the semi. It looks to me

as it Phelps is in better sprinting position than he is on the distance

races. He doesn't look that good at How interesting that Tyler Perry,

after all he had said, he gets out there and beats Phelps. I know it's

only the heats but it is a only the heats but it is a

statement. The it is. It's a statement he may regret in the

future. I say Michael Phelps, 14 gold medals. Clary, no gold medals.

That maintained, this was a very strong swim. We will be back in the

We will get Mark Foster's view on that particular heat shortly. Now

we are going back to Eton Dorney, it's time to see Great Britain's

flagship vote in action. Before that, Australia are going in the

there's been all the talking and waiting, but now is the moment.

Very much so. Everyone has talked about the class of the Australians.

Now we are going to see if they can produce it. I think they will win

quite comfortably. I would be looking at the time and comparing

it with the British group. There are literally two very fast boats

in the whole field. One is in this side of the draw and the other is

on the other. They both want to give an impression that they are

very much in control and going fast not a bad boat, Germany came 5th

last year. There's been a lot of war of words from the Aussie camp

out of the blocks in the first five strokes. Now they get going. The

first two or three strokes, very confidently done. They are away and

through to the semi-final. Great Britain doubling in the next heat.

relaxed they are, how long they are, how easy they take the stroke when

position. They took it quite steady in the first few strokes. They

think about long, loose and relaxed strokes. The Australian crew just

creeping out ahead now. We've got alongside them Serbia in 3, Canada

just slipping back. New Zealand in the semi-final. Australia just

easing away. See how well their boat runs. There's very little dig

at the finish of the stroke, so the boat just runs true and parallel to

the water, just straight over the top of the water. There is Drew

Ginn there. Joshua Duncan-Smith in Australian camp that since 1996,

when Drew Ginn first won his gold medal in the coxless four back in

Atlanta or, he won a gold at every Olympic Games that he has competed

at. He was injured back in Sydney. That 92 boat was known as the

Australians. They are out to almost a length at the halfway mark in

this heat of the men's heavyweight and lead the Aussies. They are in

the Australians always really spend a lot of time making sure that

there is great synchronicity in the boat, great accuracy in the way

they take their strokes, that they are very relaxed. They've got

beautiful ease of movement. They get out to a very good bit of

length there. They put the blades in the water and then they make the

impact. A very quick impact as they take the stroke. Allayed drive,

their bodies open up and then they finished off with the arms, the

arms, the biggest muscle group in the body, so that's just finishing

off the stroke. -- the weakest sprints for the line. -- pushes.

There are now just strolling. This is very, very easy, very impressive,

expression of confidence by this crew, they released on their

website a 62nd clip of them growing. -- or rowing. They looked good in

that, and they look good today. Australians always talking good

game. In this case, it is pretty justified because they look pretty

immaculate, pretty effortless. They will cruise to the line. Talking to

Jimmy Tomkins, the daddy of the Aussie men's team from years gone

by, he said Great Britain will be hard pushed to beat this crew. They

are not under any pressure right now. Powering up to the line. We

are seeing a demonstration of technique in this crew at the very,

very highest level. They will go through to the semi-final. The race

is on for second place. Germany are semi-final. The remainder will go

into the repechage. All of the talk and expectation, they are good, but

just how good remains to be seen. They go through to the semi-final

where they still will not meet Great Britain. The showdown will

come in the Olympic final. That was still an Olympic best time and they

were just cruising. They were hardly raising a sweat. They went

faster than anybody has ever gone at an Olympics. They took two or

three strokes off the start, a lot slower than their rivals, which is

a mark of the confidence they have, that they don't get flustered. This

is a class crew. Care little acknowledgement -- a little

acknowledgement. As they go off to wind down, Great Britain will be

next up. Australia with a new Olympic record. They have laid down

a pretty big benchmark for Great This dual is being billed as the

Ashes showdown, if you like. You feel like there are four Ricky

Pontings in that Aussie boat! There's a mix of experience in

there. In the girls' double as well, it is between the Brits and the

Aussies. It shows you the strength of the two countries. There are a

number of events where both countries are back lip get out.

There was an Olympic record. But the world record is held by our

four, 10 seconds quicker than they four, 10 seconds quicker than they

have just gone and done it. This is our quartet. We are... We are 2,500

metres away and you could hear the crowd on our microphones. Massive

support. When it comes to the final, that may well be the difference.

Any talk at the start or is it just calm and relaxed? Very little talk.

You put her hands on the boat about 35 minutes before the race. You're

warming up, you have to be on the stake boat two minutes before the

clocks,. The umpire will go through a roll-call of every country and is

normally silence. Maybe has shaken hands with the person in front of

you. Very little is said. It is sheer concentration. I don't

suppose this British team knows that the Australians have broken

the Olympic record, but that is orders. There are four boats, three

to qualify for the semi-final. Andy Hodge in that district seat, Tom

James, Peter Reed. There's been some changes in the seating order.

Peter Reed and Alex Gregory have swapped around. They believe they

have got a bit more speed out of that. This is still a class crew.

What a risk Jurgen Robles has taken. Hodge and Reed coming out of the

pair from last year. Coming into this four only to be met by a very

quick Aussie four. Remember that Jurgen Grobler has not lost this

event since he came to Britain and started working with Steve and

Matthew Pinsent. He is very talent -- canny and he is looking to try

and improve the boat speed by improving their technique. Hodge

and Reed were in the pair for three years together so they started to

roll in a different way to the way the other two, Alex Gregory and Tom

James, were rolling. They are trying to bring in ease of movement.

That is so they can allow the boat to travel between the strikes.

Through 500m. Be a good start from the British crew. They are

stretching out. They are getting length. Now you know they will be

confident and happy with the rhythm. The second 500 his rhythm for them.

A nice little insight into the boat. Very important that they got out

and lead. Some of these crews have led them in the first 250 metres in

previous regattas. A good start from Team GB. They are looking

confident, they are looking long and relaxed. He a lot of the

Challenge between Australia and Great Britain is that Australia

were very confident in Sydney that they would win a lot of gold medals

and Great Britain beat them in the eight and the four. Obviously the

Australians are after revenge. That has been hurting them for the last

12 years! Great Britain are moving their boat along very sweetly. That

looks very relaxed. That will be the key for Great Britain, to stay

relaxed, to stay long in the last six or 700 metres against Australia

when the chips are down and they are fighting for that place. We are

through the halfway mark and Great Britain have gone clear. All going

according to plan and on those bikes somewhere is the Jurgen

Grobler, the chief coach of the men's heavyweight team. He will be

pretty content. But he will know we are long way from the last 500m of

the Olympic final in terms of effort and what is required. The

most important thing is we have not seen them since Munich six weeks

ago. They have turned things around in terms of speed, but Australia

will also have done that. He imperative for Great Britain to get

the middle 1,000m nail hard in terms of rhythm, keeping for rhythm.

That is whether Aussies will be quick. Australia will have

sustainable rhythm where they don't have to work. To compare and

contrast this season, Great Britain have relied on power where

Australia have relied on technique. Now we are getting the great clash.

Great Britain are at a very comfortable 34 strokes a minute.

This is then cruising. They will be so glad to be racing finally

because a lot of the crews that are in the team will have already

raised their second races. At last they are out there feeling the

will go through to the semi-final. What has impressed me is that Great

Britain are getting right up to the catch. Watch how the blades going.

Great confidence in placing the blade, they are moving the boat

around and passed it. A wonderful shot as the sun comes down on Eton

Dorney. The British in the crowd really appreciating what they are

seeing. We will come up to this wall of noise. The hairs will be

rising on the back of their neck. Resisting all temptation to do a

little sprint. They don't need to, it is about containment. Don't

worry about the rest of the boats coming back. It is a job well done.

The time will be an irrelevant, to be honest. It would be nice to

match the Australian crew. But they have blown out the cobwebs, the

races on. In the heavyweight men's coxless four, the gold medal will

come down to two boats, Australia and Great Britain. Cruising home in

front of a crowd that is all behind them. That looks very impressive.

Over the line, Great Britain safely through. In second place, Romania.

Belarus in third. Great Britain and Romania get the two, with Belarus

in third. We did not see any fireworks, but we did not need to.

We saw good technique. Establish some rhythm. Three seconds slower

than Australia. Australia were not pushed either in any way. They were

just in their cruising pace. That allows their boat to travel faster

between the strokes. That is my concern, that the Australians have

a way of rowing that allows their boat to travel further between the

strokes because they are not pushing it. When the chips are down,

when the real pressure is on, we will see what changes. At the

moment, the speed at a very comfortable 33 off 34 is just

balancing a little bit in the Australian's favour. Andy Hodge is

saying yes, that's our first race, it was a good piece of rowing and

we're very pleased. This is the It is all set for Saturday morning,

11:30am. Ridiculously exciting and it is only Monday morning!

Delighted to be joined by Alex Partridge. Let's talk about your

race. If you were not cruising, you were certainly not racing. We had

to do something different and we did in the heat. The heat was a lot

of pressure, home Olympics, first time with this crew, and we did not

get everything right. We tried to do better today and we have got a

chance in the final. Steve was making the point that if the

Germans were watching, and they are the crew everybody is aiming at,

you certainly gave them a lot of food for thought. Good. The 8th is

the fastest boat in rowing and there's only one way to do it. The

Germans have done that for many years. You were asked what we would

do different. We showed we can take a step forward. Talking about

timings, as we see you in action here, if we move on to talk about

the coxless four with Steve, a three-second difference in times

between the Australians and the British. Does that matter? It is

always nice to have up -- an Olympic record. But Saturday is

important. Talking to Alex off-air, he says it is quite windy out there.

It has picked up over the last half an hour. I would not read anything

into that. We know it will be nip and tuck between the British and

the Aussies on Saturday. It doesn't make anything of the time. I'm

quite happy that the Australians have got that record because they

will think they are on target, everything is going their way and

our guys will ruffle them a little bit and I think that will help.

know the guys in the four extremely well. Is the rivalry with the

Australians friendly or his there son genuine legal? Think about

growing up is the respect each other enormously, but when it comes

down to racing, it is war. You want their blood. They are your worst

enemy. I have got some of my best friends in rowing, but if I

embracing them, I want nothing else In terms of the four, of a calm,

composed, are they up for the fight? Everybody is up for the

fight. Everybody wants nothing more than to win an Olympic gold medal.

That is what we are all here for. It is not just the four, it's

everyone. Yesterday, with the lightweight doubles, everyone has

got a chance. If you are in the final you have a chance. It's what

you do in that small moment of time. Everybody has now Road, the great

thing for the four and the women's double is that everybody has had a

competitive race, the COB birds have been blown away and the nerves

have gone. Everybody by and large have Road well. That must create

momentum. It's massive. Getting the first one out of the way, the

difference between today and two days ago is chalk and cheese. It

was intense, feeling the home crowd. Seeing everyone... The emotions are

quite overwhelming. The difference today is going out and being able

to know what's happening and your expectations. With that out of the

way, everyone performs a lot better. If I gave you one word to describe

how you are feeling about that final, what would that be? Excited?

Yes, excited. We've got a chance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity and we got to make the most of it. Having seen everybody

now, some boats are through to repechages, others are straight

through to finals. What is your general take on whether British

rowing team stands at the moment? I'm very happy. We haven't had the

best of seasons even though we've had some fantastic results, but

everything is coming together at the right time. Everyone is looking

very classy and relaxed. Even our boats that we weren't expecting

much of our next -- are stepping up to the mark. It could have all 13

boats in finals, and that would be very impressive. I hope to talk to

Kath Grainger and Anna Watkins at some point, they are still doing

The rowing finals don't start until Wednesday, still still a couple of

more days to go. This has been a consistently strong start for

British rowing across the different events. Lots of sport happening

Three. Paul Drinkhall will be in third round action. That is just

about to start. There is also British interest in the fencing.

Carina Lawrence is on now. There is weightlifting featuring men's 62 kg

category and also the British teenager Zoe Smith, his back in

We are going to head back to the Aquatics Centre. Let's have a quick

word about what we've seen so far. Two British swimmers, Pavoni and

Roebuck, were in that butterfly heat but it wasn't a good morning

for them. Not the best swim. Not all four, but we've seen it with

the likes of Michael Phelps. If you don't perform in the morning then

you can't Rick -- make it through to the next round. One of the

problems is at our British trials those two guys can cruise through

the heats, cruise through the semi- final. Whereas here, some people it

is the first race. They need to be up early in the morning. They need

to be doing the best times early in the morning. They are facing the

best in the world. It was a stacked field. Michael Phelps used to lead

it by a long wait. Don't get me wrong, he's not swimming at his

best at the moment but when he's like be struggling, he's down in

about a poor 9th place now. He is struggling. I saw it in the 400

individual medley. You heard Ian Thorpe talking about his stroke and

the way it looks, he looks heavy and clumpy. And he is the defending

Olympic champion. What does it take to do really well in the butterfly?

I held the world record for 50m butterfly, which is one... I could

never do four length. I always thought when I went from one lane

to the other, why go back, you've done it now. With butterfly, you

kick at the top of the stroke and at the bottom. So what is two to

one arm stroke. When your timing is that it makes a huge difference.

The timing needs to be spot-on. It's one of these events, when you

go out and get it wrong and go too hard, you see people suddenly

fatiguing at the end. It really is the hardest stroke. To me, it

Next, so the Allah and Hannah Miley are going to be involved in the

women's 200 metres individual We are going to catch up on the

heats that had been taking place. Mark was saying he couldn't do four

length and you said... Mark can't even do one-and-a-half lengths of

the pool. He touches the wall and is very lucky to get there.

Individual medley, the women's. We will see Hannah Miley. The first

heat involves Sophie Allen. This is her first Olympics. She trains at

the same club as James Goddard and David Carry. Also in here is

Pellissier coops, from Australia, who was part of the gold medal-

winning relay team. Yes, and she is swimming well. An interesting one

to look out for in lane four. are trying to qualify for the semi-

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

of Australia. So good Ahmad underwater face. -- so good on that

She has had big injuries and illness. She's been trying to

recover. Every year we talk about an injury or illness for her. She

is a wonderful swimmer. It would be great to see her on a thick year

where she has a whole year of training behind her, which she has

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

this year. Five gold medals at the in that breaststroke. Leverenz

getting caught up a little bit. She may hold on. Leverenz has got it.

Very similar to Rebecca Soni. They are trying to keep the arms out the

front. The elbows don't go off too enough for Sophie Allen, but it may

not be because the next heat is so hot. Hannah Miley, this is her

slightly weaker competition, but she is trying to make the semis and

ultimately the final. She is up against the defending champion,

Steph Rice of Australia. And also Ye. She swam the last leg of her

race are faster than Ryan Lochte did. Let's see how much speed she

Britain. This is the weakest Legard Hannah Miley's race. Ye, her

freestyle split on the 400 individual medley, the last 50 was

faster than the gold and silver- medallist from the men's 400-metre

medley. She went 28.9 on the last Olympics. Quite unbelievable. She

went on the backstroke, it's a world apart. She is doing this to

Steph Rice, who herself is awesome at backstroke. Steph Rice, the

defending Olympic champion, not being able to live with the pace. A

bit of a look over from Kirsty Coventry, good to see her back in

the water. A double silver- medallist and gold-medallist in the

Games in 2008. There is not a fault in any of her strokes. What a

freestyle that was faster than Ryan Lochte's, what hope is there for

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

will be on here because her position, that should be good

enough. It should be. But I think she will find it tough to live with

this swimmer. I'm not even sure if she pushed it right at the end.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

her back in there. Coventry will Safely through to the semi-finals,

it will take quite a tough swim to get through to the final. The

Chinese girl is very good. She is. She's definitely the one to beat.

If I'm going to make a time, I reckon no one is going to go

anywhere near her. But who knows? Anything can happen. For me, to

swim that time this early in the morning is good. I'm really happy I

got through to the semi. That is one of my goals. The next is to try