BBC One: Day 5: 11.30-13.00 Olympics

know them but in 18 minutes time they could be on the front page of

every single newspaper in the every single newspaper in the

country tomorrow. Now for the past five days we have

been saying, is this the day that we are going to get a gold medal?

Well in the next 10 minutes, it we could see that gold rush start. And

here is why. They have been together for just

two years but Helen Glover and Heather Stanning could not only win

the first gold medal of the games for Great Britain but the first

rowing Olympic gold for British women. It has been 20 years since

Greg Searle won a gold medal in Barcelona. Youth and experience

line-up together with a good chance of a medal in the Men's Eight.

Stopwatches at the ready, Beijing silver medallist Emma Pooley and

Lizzie Armitstead take to the roads around Hampton Court in the women's

time-trial. And then the men take to the streets and Bradley Wiggins

is back on his bike. Can he cap of his astonishing achievement this

year? So a quick look at the year? So a quick look at the

timetable. Just minutes to go until the Women's Pair final. Helen

plover and Heather Stanning, we all just cannot wait for that. -- Helen

Glover. We would also like you to send in

your thoughts on what could be a medal-winning morning.

So as you sit there watching athletes push themselves to the

limit I'm sure your degree from a fitness perspective that this is a

morning of absolute respect. One athlete who deserves the utmost

respect is Steve Redgrave. He has been down at Eton Dorney all

morning. Rowling, it can be quite an uncomfortable sport to watch

because of the link the athletes go to. They really have to dig deep.

Do you have to warm up psychologically as well as

physically due to the lengths you have to push yourself still?

Journalists always want to talk about the pain that you have to go

to get two or her Olympic final. There is a lot of strain and stress.

But that is what they have been preparing for. Sometimes the first

race of the season hurts more than the last one. But mentally, the

training and the preparation, everyone can do that, it is how

mentally switched on you have to be for the race that counts. Helen and

her there, what will they be doing now? Will they be warming up

together? Getting that Bond? This is the easy bit. We saw them set

off for the warm-up 15 minutes ago. That is the easy bit, they practise

and practise and they know what needs to be done. It is the couple

of hours before that, waiting around for that moment. So they're

just going through a very practised routine. And then it becomes very

nervous. The bows are held in position and there's nothing else

you can do. Then the umpire starts going through the roll call and you

think, it is now. We have to produce it now. We have spoken at

length about them only been together for a couple of years. Do

you worry a little bit about their experience, but the situation may

just overtake them? I do not, actually. I'm relaxed about them

because they are putting across a very calm and relaxed image. When

we interviewed them after the heats there were asked about their

preparation. And they said the next race is the biggest of the season.

I thought no, it is the biggest race of your life! I nearly said

that but I thought no, do not add to the pressure! But they're very

calm and focused. In some ways not knowing what the Olympics is about,

that naivety can be a benefit. Well thank you for that in sight.

And we can talk about them at length, but they met up with

Matthew Pinsent to talk about their How was the heat? Brilliant. I am

done! I'm a pro-. -- pro. It has been a fantastic season for Helen

Glover and Stanning. Unbeating throughout the World Cup series.

They are stretching out. That looks so good. They are hearing the roars

today. It will be deafening come the Olympic final. It was. It was

great the crowd, the noise t atmosphere was brilliant and the

port was brilliant. When I read the guide book it says under your name,

Heather Stanning, Olympic experience, none. Helen Glover,

Olympic experience, none. Is that a good thing at this stage? Yes,

definitely. I think, I mean, we just love everything we are doing,

everything is new to us and we relish it but we are not

overwhelmed. We have a lot of experience in the squad that we

have been able to talk to people and take advice and everyone has

been really great at making sure the team is in the best place

possible. There is a lot of people who this is their first Olympics

and we won't be overwhelmed by it, we are here at home and want to

make the most of it. When you sit on start line does it cross your

mind your friends and family are down the other end of the track?

by then we are thinking about the boat, but getting up there it is

nice to know they are here and have the opportunity to watch us,

because they have supported us for the last couple of years, they

don't get to watch all our races live so it is lovely for them.

do thaw describe what they go through? They never let on how

nervous they are. Parents are seasoned professionals at being

parents. We can go and row, if we are nervous we know we can affect

the result. They have to sit there and watch, knowing how much it

means to us, so they are relieved when we cross the finish line.

Heather, you are make rowing look really quite easy, to make rowing

look as easy and smooth as you are is difficult to do. How do you do

it? It is an effort. She doesn't really try. She pulls me along.

from the bow seat. You are racing against and beating way more

experienced athletes than you. we are racing the two timing

Olympic champions and they hold the world best time and been doing it

for year, not to be overwhelmed by it but we embrace it and go, that

is what they are doing but we can try and do it better. How do you

handle the nerves? We to remember what a great year's training we

have had. We sit on the start line knowing there is nothing we could

have done better. Every sacrifice you have made and every training

session, every day for the last four years is going to come down to

seven minutes of your life, either going right or wrong, this seven

minutes for us, that is our definition of whether it was worth

it or not. With we are getting very close to that seven minutes of

their lives, so we will hand straight back to Eton Dorney. Can

glefr and Heather Stanning become lost John and Steve so we will hand

to Dan and Gary. The roar went out from the crowd. We are looking at

Australia in lane four, we had Great Britain in five. A big race

now for all of these guys, this is the Olympic final. New Zealand, the

World Champions find themselves in lane five. The next crew we will

see will be Germany, in lane number six. Romania, the defending Olympic

champions up in one. Tense, last moments. Nothing more now to do.

Apart from race. Under starters final chapter of what has been a

remarkable story is now under way. Seven minutes away from Olympic

history. We have Great Britain's Helen Glover, Heather Stanning in

lane three, alongside them, Australia, and the World Champions

from New Zealand are in five. But Great Britain have jumped out of

the starting gate. Romania in one, Romania are the defending Olympic

champion, we have the five time Olympic champion in the bow seat.

Great Britain, they mean business. It is game on. The. The Germans

have gone out fast in lane six. They have the early lead but I

don't expect them to hold that. Look. They are already stretching

out, Great Britain, looking fine. They are settling into their rhythm.

Middle of the race rhythm. A look across and they have moved out in

front they have the Olympic twice Olympic champions from Romania up

in lane one. Who are now back in fourth place but Great Britain,

doing what they have done for the last two years, just looking

fantastic. What they have done, look at that, already a length,

what they do so well and what they have learned in the last winter,

was to be flexible. To be able to respond to the attack that comes

right at the end and which caught them out last year at the World

Championships when New Zealand attacked them right at the end. But

this is fantastic. Look at them. is an exceptional start from Helen

Glover and Heather Stanning, Helen Glover from Minerva rowing club.

They are storm in the first quarter. It is absolutely wonderful to see.

So 500, the crowd down here have gone mad. They are now clear, there

is clear water on Great Britain as they head towards the record books

but right now that will be irrelevant, it is about dictating

and executing their plan. Already into the second 500 metres of this

2,000 metre race. They are looking as though they are strolling along,

it can't get better for them. are looking so settled, so focused.

Two-and-a-half years ago they were the spares in the British team.

They were the last choice and so they thought let us put them in a

pair and see how they go. They won a silver medal two years ago, they

won a silver medal last year, here they are on track to crown a

fantastic fairy tale story. Robin Williams is the guy responsible for

this, in 2010 they finished ninth at the first World Cup. He came

onboard and between the three of them, they have done Great Britain

so proud. Here they are now in the closing stages of what is a

magnificent fairytale, it can't get any better. They are tout a clenth

length of clear water. They have dominated. Now for them it is heads

up, a it is opening up all the time. Opening up. 1200 metres to glory.

200 metres to go, to become the first British women ever to win an

Olympic Gold in rowing, and perhaps Britain's first gold medal of these

Olympics. So Helen Glover in the bow seat, a word of confidence,

support there, keeping it settled for Heather Stanning, because she

is moving along really lovely here. They are setting a fantastic rhythm.

We have New Zealand the World Champions in lane number five.

Surely now the race is on for the silver medal. At the half way mark,

Great Britain lead by three- quarters of a clear lent, over the

World Champions, we are now into the third 500, there is less than

three-and-a-half minutes and these guys will be rowing into Olympic

history, we are right on the edge of our seats. You have New Zealand

at 37 strokes a minute. That is the way they like to race they can't

pain Tain that but Great Britain at 33 strokes a minute have the length,

the maturity and boat speed to respond, should New Zealand really

mount an attack. They can change gear, they will move on, and they

have got this sewn up. It looks fabulous. They were undefeated

through the 2012 World Cup campaign. They have come into this Olympic

regat with a huge benchmark. Look at that. It is stunning from Helen

Glover and Heather Stanning, here, they move away, and they move away

with some power and grace, and everybody now across the way, in

the stadiums and the grand stands are on their feet. The glaing flags

are going mad. Look at this. Robin Williams their coach he has done a

wonderful job with them. Technically superb. They are

letting that are boat travel between stroke, they have good lent,

good push through the middle of the stroke and they are going very fast

indeed. Coming up to the last timing mark, on the far side, look

at that, the cheer, the whole of the nation now, will lift this boat,

and drive it on, we are heading for our first ever gold medal, in the

women's rowing team and Great Britain and the whole of the

Olympic team will be watching this, urging the girls on, Great

Britain's glefr and Heather Stanning, are rowing towards the

line.. They are so accurate. Look at that. Perfect perfect co-

ordination. Just moving so well clear. So up to the 1500 metre mark.

500 metres remain. Surely they have got it in the bag. They have

annihilated New Zealand, this is the final of the women's coxless

pairs and the British crew can now look down, they can allow

themselves a smile, they know this project that started way back in

2010 is coming to fruition and in such style and grace. Helen Glover

and Stanning racing to the record books. They are looking back on the

feel. They know they have it. Not a smile yet but they know they have

got it. They can hear the crowds, New Zealand who beat them last year

by a whisker, just cannot do anything about it. They have gone

four lengths clear, the crowds are on their side, they have got, now

they can allow a smile. They surely must feel this is it, we have got

it, but that focus is there, they are in race mode, they have 250

metres to go. So 250 metre out from the line. They are going to win

Britain's first gold medal, are doing it in style. 200 up. Count

the strokes in, we have 20. Everybody on the far side are on

their feet here now. The race for silver is developing in the back

between USA and New Zealand, the crowd are roaring them again, 100

out. They are making history here at dorn, the last few strokes are

coming. There was a smile there. A quick look for the line. But there

Tay are. Long and strong. And they are just leading a very strong

field. The crowd on both sides now driving them there. And they can

smile as they come up to the line here, I wonder what is going

through their mind? "We are Olympic champions" the last five stroke,

Great Britain into the record books and such fabulously well done! They

have punched the air. Their shake their hands. Great Britain are the

Olympic champions and it couldn't go to two worthy women. Helen

Glover and Stanning, we stand up and we salute you, for the British

rowing team and for the country as whole.. This is tears in stuff. It

is only three years they started really getting together in the, in

a senior team, they have come through, a fantastic two years,

what a triumph for them, and it is Great Britain's first gold medal of

these Olympics. We are allowed in to share a very private moment here

on the world's public stage, and that is what it means, and we

salute also Robin Williams, the three of them here, and the support

that the British rowing team have given Helen Glover and Heather

Stanning, and ladies and gentlemen, that is what it is, that is what it

means to be Olympic champion. Now, they can smile, and the emotions

will just come home and ride through their bodies. They knew

they were the fastest crew here, we felt they would probably win it,

but, you know, you can never be sure. So Prince William and Prince

Harry in the stands here for this momentous day for the country, for

the sport, and for two young women, Glover, 25, Stanning, 27. And now,

it really is going to start to think about coming home. Dan, they

executed a plan that was faultless. Faultless. They have been doing

that all through the season. They have been unbeaten all through the

year, so you expected it, but this was just a supreme performance,

they will be on the front pages of every newspaper tomorrow morning.

They will be household names. And it is fantastic they have done this

with so, with such grace, such effectiveness. Look at that, look

how well they rowed together. Look at that sweet length. And look that

the happiness. There it S there it is! We are Olympic champions. A job

very well done. And on this day, Wednesday 1st August, 2012, it will

be a day that has changed two young women's lives forever. So there it

is. Helen Glover, Heather Stanning, Olympic champions here at Eton

Dorney, Australia get the silver, been waving at, it is all the

volunteers, the games makers in their purple outfits on the far

side. They have made everybody so welcome at Eton Dorney. They have

been saying a personal thank-you to them, from the first gold

medallists at the London 28 of Olympic Games. The people that have

been integral and made it so special. Nobody has enjoyed these

Games more than Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. They will be

paddling in to the pontoon in a few moments, not just as the first gold

medallists of the Games, but the first women to win an Olympic medal

in rowing. It is sensational. They turned up and did it in a style

that I did not expect. It was unbelievable. For British rowing,

for women's rowing in this country, that is absolutely outstanding.

Huge support from everybody around us, as you can hear. That is the

sports psychologist! Rowing is easy compared to being in Afghanistan,

in the army, so perhaps we should not be surprised. Heather Stanning

is so strong. A couple of very tough cookies. The will be getting

out of the water very shortly. -- they will. In terms of activating a

game-plan, they got out of the traps quick. It is better to be out

in front in rowing because you can see what opposition is doing. They

got a bigger and bigger lead. It is covering tactics. If you have got

to two lengths lead, do not push it because you do not want to be tired

out in the closing stages. But who am I to say that? Fantastic results,

fantastic scenes. The crowds are going nuts. Amazing. 30,000 people

just cheering to the rafters when they crossed the line. I am sure it

will take time to sink in. I will not say what they are going to say

for them. Why don't they say it themselves? The first British gold

medallists of the London 2012 Games, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning.

With our greatest row of all time. Well done. It was a fantastic

performance. I don't need to ask you any questions, do I? Tell us

what is happening in that body of yours at the moment. I don't know.

It wants to go in to shut down but it cannot because it is too excited.

I am ecstatic and excited and I want to collapse but I am just so

overjoyed. I want to jump around. I am talking rubbish Now! We were

watching on this green and he was smiling with 250 to go. -- the

screen. You were smiling with 250 to go but we did not want to do

because you have not got it. I was probably grimace thing because I

never thought I had got it until we went through the line. You decided

that if you got out early then nobody could catch you and that is

what you did. You can see from all the races that we have done, we

have got ahead and pushed the margin and that is what we wanted

to do today. We did not give anything back. We wanted to keep

that same margin from all the World Cup's up until now. I could see

everybody behind me. They were getting smaller. They were behind

us. We have got a message for you from your colleagues in Afghanistan.

Put on those headphones. This is what they have got to say. Array!

Good luck to Captain Heather Stanning under par and Helen Glover

from the Royal Artillery Regiment. -- and her partner Helen Glover for

what is your message to them? you for the support. I know that

you are very far away but I am so proud to be associated with you.

Keep doing what you are doing and I will see you when you get home.

Four years ago you could never have imagined that four years later you

would be in this position. How many people are watching you now that

have never wrote and think that could be then in the Rio Games?

you work your heart, try your best, and anyone can do anything. -- if

you work hard. Enjoy the national anthem. Congratulations to our

first British gold medalists at London 2012. It was a great

performance. You can tell when even the cynical television reporters

lined up along here have all been applauding. And maybe its birds on

a women's quad on to great things in their final. -- it spurs on. An

outer Helen Skelton in the Olympic Park. I bet the atmosphere there

I hope you are enjoying the atmosphere at Ten. I hope it is

coming through your television screens and it is as infectious as

it is here. The crowd on their feet because that is Team GB's first

gold medal. I am standing in a ditch right now because Bay Hill is

so packed. They all have tickets to be here. They all wanted to sit

this. It is Team GB's first gold medal. I absolutely fantastic.

you glad to what it here among the crowd? Fantastic. We were here for

the disappointment yesterday but this is wonderful. You are getting

into the Olympic spirit. Fantastic, wonderful to be here. Are you going

to stay here all day? You are the good luck charm. We have got

handball this afternoon. Enjoy that. I don't think we will win that, but

that was all that mattered. Everybody can enjoy this moment

together. Union flags in the air, red, white and blue clothes being

thrown in the air. People at the Olympic Park of very pleased with

that result. That is the legal high that is the

Olympic gold medal! Let's look at this analytical objective bit. You

are at the start, your first Olympic Games, you are nervous but

there is a job to be done. You get out to a perfect start. It is about

being relaxed, it getting into your pace. You are not worried about

what anybody else is doing in that first 20 or 30 strokes. When they

first look round, after about 250 metres, and they see they are well

out in front, that is a great feeling. I have had it a couple of

times. They looked around and they kept on pushing. Through the first

500m, very comfortable. What looked very good was how relaxed and

smooth they were. My only concern was that they kept getting bigger

and bigger margins. All that comes into my mind is that you have to

put in a lot of energy to do that and that has to pay the price at

some board. Do you keep on pushing and dry up in the last few strokes?

With everybody charging past you? But they were placing it perfectly.

Matt was standing next to me and was saying that they won by five

seconds in Barcelona and they were going to beat it by much more. The

crowd, the emotion, they knew they were going to win and they were

cruising, in relative terms. You saw the motion. I thought they were

absolutely perfect. -- emotion. It is better to be in front than

coming from behind. As we always do on these occasions, we had the

camera on you and Matt. Thank you You were much more measured. We

were content. I am eight years older than him. I have got to pace

myself through the day. There are going to be lots of medals coming.

I have got to pace myself. men's eight is coming up at 12:30pm,

but if we go to the start we can see that they are waiting for us

already at the final of the women's quad. Four women, not expected to

medal, but maybe the feel-good factor that has been generated

throughout the day and has reached there, and been medals in that boat.

In the last 500m of the repechage they showed that they can do this,

they can turn their season around. It is a very big ask. Lots of

experience in this boat. Can they back up on that gold medal a few

moments ago with another place on the podium? This crowd is close to

the final of the women's quadrangle scull. Great Britain in lane number

one, and we raced 2,000m on the international scene here, but their

only focus is the first 500. They have got to jump out and attack the

first 500 if they are going to have any chance of living with this high

quality field. Already Great Britain slightly down. Half a

length down on Australia. To Australia in a number two. World

champions Germany in number four and China in number six. Great

Britain starting slowly here. saw that in the repechage. We

begged them to get out fast. They have let everybody go again. They

finished well. Look, they are right at the back. They had to be in the

pack here and they should have done everything possible just to be in a

hand. Now they have got to play catch-up. -- just to be in the hunt.

They will struggle just to get out of 6th place. They are really class,

the crew from Ukraine. There have been so dominant this season. Long

levers, long arms and legs, and already they are out in front.

first time in Mark, 1500 to go. Almost by a length, Ukraine. Great

Britain back in 6th, very worry only. It will be nearly impossible

for them to get back towards the front bench to challenge for the

top medals. We will have to wait until the end for Great Britain to

get back into the silver or bronze position possibly. We know they

have got a very good second 1,000m, but they have got to get to the

point to execute. They are fighting to stay in it, because they are on

the back foot now, not a great place to be. Great Britain were

dominant by Germany, pipped by China four years ago in Beijing.

They were expected to win that gold medal. Both China and Great Britain

are not the force that they were. Germany always strong in this event.

They put their best athletes into their top boat. They will be the

ones to challenge now for the medal. United States doing a very good job.

Latecomers, second last year, and they have got a very good chance of

repeating that here at the Olympics. But look at Ukraine, so elegant. So

long, so relaxed. Dementieva or needing this quadruple scull. She

has got a stunning river. -- Dementieva leading. It is all about

sustainability. Great Britain currently six. The crews have

started to stretch out over the course. Not looking good for

Frances Houghton, Beth Rodford, Melanie Wilson and Debbie Flood.

They knew that coming out of the repechage and into this final they

had to series to turn around the first 1000 and they have not done

that. -- seriously turn around. They will have to rely on an

explosive second 1,000m and I do not think we are going to get that.

Everything in perfect synchronicity from Ukraine. What is really lovely,

what used to be the problem with the Ukraine was that they would run

out of puff. They were not really physically totally prepared and

trade. They have put that right. They have added some good technique

and they look absolutely superb. One of the great crews of this

Olympiad. Being chased by Germany, slipping into second place. Great

Britain in 6th position. Great pick up of the stroke. They bury their

blade tips so quickly and connect that with the leg drive. That is

what connects the stroke. The legs, the Blades, holding on with the

arms. Finishing at the stroke with the arms at the end. Really quick

and really long. They are not having it all their own way. Here

come Jo May and the United States. really at the back. It all came

down to the first 500, they did not get into it. You have got to get

amongst it, and that gives you the confidence to get into a stunning

rhythm, which we are looking at right now from the crew from

Ukraine. They were undefeated throughout the 2012 World Cup

regattas, we had three around Europe, their won in such

impressive style, and they now skulk away, and they are sculling

two Olympic glory in the men's quadruple -- women's quadruple

sculls final. On the left, the Australians will have to fight hard

if they are going to come back into it. 200 from the line, 20 strokes

to go. Germany have got the edge and the United States of America.

Germany with their strongest at least 10 at boat, just beginning to

move a little bit further away from the United States. -- athletes in

that boat. Ukraine, dominant in this event for the year, the USA

with a creditable third. Great Britain, I'm afraid, not today.

They come past us in the commentary position, five strokes to the line,

Ukraine looking absolutely glorious. It is an Olympic gold medals for

them, they are the new Olympic champions, and rightly so, they

have had a fantastic 2012 season. Then Germany, the United States of

America, and here comes Great Britain, languishing in sixth

position, and they will be mightily season, and they are the worthy

winners of this than in their title. Being dominant or through the

season, it will not come as a surprise that they have won, but it

is relief and the excitement, of course, it is that it is an Olympic

gold medal, and that is just spectacular. Ukraine, what a great

result. Always enjoyable to watch, the emotions start to hit you, they

come at you like a train, really, up until the moment you get up

under the line it is focus on the Helen were a few moments ago, very

impressive performance. -- Heather. Ukraine have been as dominant as

our pair through the season, very similar situation. Our quad, very

disappointing, the quality of the girls, but it has not gone well all

season. I have got no reason why. I was hoping that the best they had

in the semi-final, sorry, the repechage, when they came blasting

in the last 500, that was going to be enough to put some more belief

into it, but unfortunately it was more like what they showed in the

rest of the season. Was there an option at some point to change

personnel in the boat? Once you have made a decision, are you

better off staying with what you have got? They have changed it a

few times from the First World Cup, they were unsettled. After Friday,

when they win their gold medal, hopefully we will say they could

have done both, but that was a slight sacrifice from their point

of view. I do not think that they were in the class of beating

Ukraine at any stage, but I know they are as good as the Americans.

Well, you know, the contrast in emotion in a very short space of

time, the euphoria of Helen and Heather, and we are having their

victory ceremony in just a few moments time, to the despair of

finishing last in a final and the efforts that has been put in is no

less to finish last than it is to finish first, but there is no

prizes for coming 6th, and you can see on the faces of Melanie Wilson

and Frances Houghton that a lot of work goes in for no reward at the

end of it. A lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, they will be absolutely

devastated, as well as the coaching staff as well. A lot of effort from

a lot of people, and when you do not reassure potential, it is hard

to take. Just before the next race, we are going to have the medal

ceremony in a few minutes' time, but that will run immediately into

the men's eight, the culmination of the programme today, so a quick

word about that. They have a medal opportunity, but let's not get

carried away, we are not predicting gold, are we? We cannot predict

gold, we can predict silver, that is the form they have shown through

the season, through the last two The Germans have been a class act.

They were bitterly disappointed with their performance at the last

Olympics and they have won every race they have been in. A bit like

the Ukraine in the quadruple sculls, Helen and Heather, they are the

dominant boat, but the gaps are not as big. It is a lot tighter,

anything can happen, but I think our guys will put everything on the

line. Hopefully they will be in contact in the first 500, that has

been their downside in the last few years. When they have raised the

Germans, they have let them get away and then charged back at them.

Even with this crowd, they will not charge passed the Germans. For some

reason, the women's quads are not the sum of the parts. The men's

eight and there cox, it is an extraordinarily cosmopolitan bunch,

Moe Sbihi, the first Muslim in the team, Phelan Hill, a former adviser

to the Treasury, Constantine Louloudis, 20 years old, Greg

Searle, 40 years old, 20 years on from Barcelona. It is like throwing

them up in the air, landing them in a boat, but it works. That is what

rowing is about in some ways. You could put the eight best rowers

into a boat, but it would not necessarily be the best boat. It is

a combination of personalities, but we are more interested in what is

going to happen in the next two minutes. Helen Glover, Heather

Stanning, and his said there was a dearth of gold medals? The papers

today, crisis, what crisis?! Britain languishing in 23rd place

in the medals table. We have still got the time trials at Hampton

Court over the next two or three hours, but in a few moments time,

on top of the podium will be Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, not

just our first gold-medallists at love but the first women ever to

win gold medals in rowing. I will leave the honour of describing this

Thank you, John. You are seen two people on the medal podium, but

three people are involved in this boat, and we really have to salute

Robin Williams, fantastic coach who brought this whole project to that

glorious, glorious conclusion. The medals will be handed out by Denis

Oswald, whom we just saw, the flowers by Michael Williams, the

treasurer of the International Rowing Federation. Denis Oswald, he

oversaw the whole preparation for London 2012. Bronze-medallists,

representing New Zealand! Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown, they just

could not live with the pace. champions last year, they beat the

British pair last year by a whisker. Fast-moving but not really smooth

They really did not look like challenging the British pair this

year. Nevertheless, an Olympic medal in a tough competition. But

their faces, particularly Rebecca Scown, LIT disappointment. -- the

life. New Zealand to the right of them, Australia to the left!

Silver-medallists, representing Australia! The Australians will be

mightily happy with that silver medal. This combination, third at

the World Championships last year. Kate Hornsey and Sarah Tate. Still,

though, the gap between the Olympic But here they are, ladies and

gentlemen, our new Olympic champions, not just for Great

Britain, but the first time in a rowing history for the British team

that Great Britain have won the Olympic gold medal! Representing

There is no finer setting to represent your country on home

water, and what a magnificent time now, Helen Glover... And Heather

Stanning! Heather Stanning from Lossiemouth, Helen Glover from

Penzance. That is what it means! And they turn, and they show the

medals to the crowd, and you are not going to get two more worthy

champions throughout the whole of this Olympic regatta. And it will

now hit them hard as they watch the flag going up. It has been a

magnificent project. It has been a breathtaking display, it has been

an incredible race. The national Thousands of people here at Eton

Dorney joining in with the national anthem, as the whole country is on

its feet, and we salute you, Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, a

Olympic champions here at Eton Like the podium in 1992, a big

emotional moment. A can there be any better and in big games to hear

the national anthem and no that 99% of the crowds are right behind you?

British rowers are coming, and it tears Helen Glover has got to shed,

because she has been in floods for 50 minutes, but every tier is a

deserving one, a monumental achievement for her and had a poor

start an outstanding junior international and hockey player.

She decided she was going to do rowing four years ago, there she is

on the left with a gold medal around her neck. Heather Stanning

may be heading back to Afghanistan or who knows where, whatever next

posting in the army will be, but what a combination, what a pair

they have been, standard-bearers for women's rowing and women's

sport, inspirational figures for who knows how many people watching

at home on this Wednesday afternoon. When you talk about legacy, this is

one legacy is all about, watching the Rowan four years ago, thinking,

I want some of that, coming out and doing it. You were there four years

ago, you should have got back in the boat! With that run there, I

could go quite quick in a boat to Dave! -- crowd. How much of that in

the men's eight down at the start, 30,000 people singing the anthem,

the wind was against it, but they must have got a glimpse of that...

There is the cheer for them, they must have got a glimpse of that

from afar, so can we round off what has already been a history-making

day for British rowing here at Eton Dorney with another medal, and

could it perhaps the gold? This is always one of the great sights of

any Olympic Games, the final of the men's eight, and it is going to be

described by Garry Herbert and Dan undefeated in the men's eight. For

four years, since Beijing. Canada in lane five, the defending Olympic

champions. Australia in a number six, 4th at the World Championships

the men's eight. The next five and a half minutes will define the rest

Britain. They have to absolutely jammed with Germany. Canada have

gone. -- jump with Germany. Great Britain know that the first 250,

imperative that they get right into the race. They are there, in

amongst it all. A fantastic start for Constantine Louloulis in at the

stroke. The engine house that backs him up behind. Great Britain

practice this fast start. That has been no trouble. They knew that

they had to get out early to say that this great big kick at the end

would have no impact on the classy German boat. Constantine Louloulis

recovered from injury, first big race. Here he is on his own course,

built by Eton College, this is why he learned to -- where he learned

higher. A fabulous start for Great Britain. They are on track, chasing

hard. They are hounding Germany. Great Britain have been in this

position before and Germany were able to turn the screw after

halfway. Can Great Britain have the ability to keep this? They have

been rowing so well. They have got length and really lovely rhythm.

Can they do this at this time around in the Olympic final? They

came together as individuals but under the watchful eye of John West,

they have been moulded into the crew that we see today. Racing for

their country, but in their lives on the edge here. They are looking

good and long. Phelan Hill, 32, driving the British. Driving them

hard. Closest to us, Canada, the Olympic champions. But in amongst

it all, Moe Sbihi heat, Richard terrific position to push on. But

the Germans have got a tremendous change of beer, so can they make

that work for them? Into the third 500 now. There is no doubt that the

Germans are being put under pressure by Great Britain. Here

come the British now! We have got 800m remaining. Take them on now.

Constantine Louloulis! Germany have never been put under this much

pressure for this sustained length. fairy tale. Great Britain up there

on of the bowels of Germany, the World Champion, unbeaten this year.

-- the bows. It is all about sheer determination but the Germans have

responded. We are into the last 500m. This is the Olympic final and

there is nothing in it. Germany, Great Britain, Canada, this is

coming down to the wire. Greg Searle, for the great British men's

eight, if not now, when? This is your time! Germany have got all

that flexibility and experience but they are starting to edge away.

Great Britain have to put it all into the last 400m. If they are in

hell now, the pay will be excruciating, but they have got the

10th man in the boat. The 10th man is the crowd. Germany taking the

lead. 40 strokes a minute and moving away. What a challenge for

Great Britain. The Olympic champions coming into picture.

world champions are leading. Almost half a leg. The Germans responded

well to the charge of brick Britain. Watch out for Canada, the defending

Olympic champions. You have got to claw your way to the line. Great

Britain slipping back into bronze. Canada have just slipped past Great

Britain. Great Britain hanging on, hanging on to that bronze medal.

Germany are going to be the Olympic champions. Canada coming through.

And Great Britain into bronze medal position. Great Britain gets the

bronze medal but what a challenge. Germany so grateful to have got

home. They have maintained their unbroken record, Olympic champions.

A Germany have dominated for the last four years and there was a

moment in that race going through the halfway mark that Great Britain

had us on the edge of our seats. But it is bronze medal for the

British crew of today. We also have to take our hats off to Canada, the

defending Olympic champions. Outstanding. 250 metres for the

Canadians. How they flew past Great Britain. Great Britain looked like

they were absolutely certain of silver and just edging for gold.

Everything in the last 500m turned around. There will be huge

disappointment with that bronze medal for Great Britain. At one

point in the race, Phelan Hill will have called that they have hit the

front, and that was the point that they had to go again. But Germany

have been so dominant in this event over the last four years. They had

cool heads under pressure and they had the major charge at the end. In

the last 250 they lifted it up and they rowed away from the field.

Superb rowing. Not huge guys, but so well drilled and say well

disciplined. -- so well disciplined. It was brave, write to the last,

but they through so much into the first 1000, so much in their last

500, but they could not hang on to Germany. Our hearts really wanted

it but our heads said it could not be. Our hearts will be it and we

urged them, as 30,000 people at Eton Dorney did this afternoon.

British crew had the very difficult season. They had injury in the boat

right the way through. They were changing their order around a lot.

It was just the very last bit. Confirmation that Germany are the

Olympic champions, Canada the silver medalists, and Great Britain

get bronze today. They will be disappointed with that. That is the

scene of desolation and complete exhaustion in the British boat. At

1,500m, they took the lead. They thought it was the moment, but it

did not happen. It was an extraordinary performance by the

Germans to find it something extra. For Greg Searle, 20 years after

Barcelona, coming back from a moment of triumph two decades on

aged 40, it was not to be. But let's not belittle the fact that it

is a bronze medal in a hugely competitive price and they gave it

everything they could. They did everything that we wanted them to

do. We wanted them to be in a race in the first 500 and they were.

They took the lead in the first 1,000m but the Germans were able to

pull away. As the guys have been saying, they put everything online

for the gold medal. They could have taken silver but they put

everything on the line for gold. We thought they could do it at one

stage. The Germans are just behind us coming in. Hats off to them,

hugely impressive. Yes, it is bronze and they will be

disappointed. In some ways we are disappointed with the bronze medal.

They wanted the gold and they put everything on the line and they did

not care if it was silver, bronze, for, 5th or 6th, they wanted the

gold medal. The cox was saying that after the first race it had to get

out quickly. They thought the crowd would carry them home, but that was

not to be. If you put it in the context of any other race,

athletics, horse racing, you always feel that once somebody has been

overtaken when they have been leading for a long time, that is

when there is that shift in the balance of power. When Germany were

overtaken, we thought Britain had got them. So for Germany to find an

extra gear, mentally unbelievably strong. I was watching the pictures

of Germany. The three-man looked like he was spent at 1,000m. They

were halfway and he looked like he was gone. Our guys looked strong.

They hung in there and they sensed them going away. There is no better

feeling when you are in the boat, you are hurting, but moving away

from everybody else. I cannot say how proud I and, a brilliant effort.

-- I am. We will talk to them in a moment. It is at moments like this

that it is impossible to fast- forward yourself 20 years. You will

be watching the Olympic Games in 2032, thinking I got that bronze

medal. They will not be thinking that now, but that in 20 years that

is when the bride will be a reality. -- the pride to. The fact is that

they wanted that gold medal and they put everything on the line for

it. They have just come a little bit short. For a number of months

and years they will be struggling to cope with this performance. It

is the memories that they have got of what they have done that is

important thing. You can see Phelan Hill, just on his haunches with

Greg Searle. It is almost like being numb. You know that you are

in great nick. You are hoping for the biggest prize of all and when

it does not come, you do not know what to say and do. It is not just

the physical pain. It is the mental pain. You have build yourself up to

this and suddenly that release. People always say that you look

tired after the Olympics, it must have been physically hard. Yes, it

is, but it is the mental relief. It is all over. What you have been

building up to, the three years, dreaming of coming back into this

position and having this chance, it is taken away when that buzzer goes

and it is not you. Phelan Hill has been calling the shots the whole

time, the gel that binds the boat together. He has been relentlessly

upbeat and encouraging them even when their form has been

indifferent. And it Osmond of support from the crowd. -- an

acknowledgement. The men's eight is always one of the great sights at

any Olympic Games. It is just a great spectacle and it is even

better if you can come out at the end, but it was not to be.

Britain's three gold medals remain at 19 arete, 1912, 2000. We were

hoping this would be the 4th time. -- 1908. I hate to say it, but I

think the Germans have deserved that victory. They have been

fantastic for four years, and the way our guys made them when that

gold medal, they won. Hugely impressed with with the Germans.

But it is struggle and pain. Even the winners are not smiling because

of the pain they have gone through. The mental effort that was required,

everybody is trying to put themselves in that position, I am

sure. When they looked across at 1,500m and the British were ahead,

how dare they? It was about 1,000m when our guys went in front. It was

neck-and-neck as they went through that. It was the third 500 which is

always the crucial part. This was where I was having concerns. They

have put everything on the line, they have given everything, they

were hoping to hang onto it and the crowd was going to spur them on and

give them more energy. At this stage I thought quite a few boats

completely true. It has been fantastic, the whole three years

has been absolutely brilliant. Yeah, I mean, there are some good people

here, this amazing event, the Olympic Games, and I do not think

we could have given it any more. We said before the race that we wanted

to be able to look at ourselves and air and ask, did we give

everything? And I think we did. 1,500m, you went into the lead, did

you think, this could be it? Yeah, I did, I had an amazing rush of

adrenalin when Phelan Hill said, we are in the lead, he was sitting

level with the German stroke man, so I knew we had just got into the

lead, and I thought it could really come true. We raised, you know, we

raised hard from the start, and the crowd was just amazing. -- race.

But we did not have anything left, and I guess they came back in the

last bit. It is a bronze medal, but obviously wanted so much more than

that. Can you look at it rationally and say, we did the best we could

and we have got a medal, or is it just the sadness at not having

achieved your goal, the overriding emotion? I think, obviously, at the

moment you feel like you have failed. We went for the gold. When

it does not come off, you cannot help but feel like to have lost.

But I think it was different four years ago when we we did not put

ourselves in that place to win its, and that really Ed. Today we did

everything to go for gold and we did not make it, but the same race

again, I would still risk everyone for gold. We have lost silver, but

I do not care, we went for gold. That at least we can be proud of.

have got to come in, I know there are limits on time, but it is not a

failure. You did everything that everyone wanted you to do, you made

the Germans win that. You did not lose it, they went out and won it.

How are you feeling? Yeah, really... Really mixed emotions at the moment.

Like we fought so hard macro for it, and we were really bold, coming

through to of 50. That moment through there, we took the lead at

that point. Yeah, really taking this on, taking the risk. And then,

yeah, it was not quite enough. Listen, congratulations to all nine

of you, it was an epic struggle, and you came up short, but you gave

it everything you had. Thank you so much for talking to us, we have

been with you the whole way, the last two or three years, thank you

for being great guys to work with. Can I just say a really big thanks

to all the volunteers and the support here? It has been

absolutely fantastic, I have never seen so many messages of good luck,

seeing everyone who has made the effort to come out here. I think

that is really special, thanks. Listen, we have got to let you go,

I gather, but thank you very much indeed, many congratulations,

hopefully you will look at it and say, hey, we have all got gold,

bronze medals and you are proud of that. Obviously, you can see the

monumental disappointment as far as Having spoken after the heat and

the semi-final about being so determined to come away with the

gold, to make it the 4th time that a men's eight had managed to

achieve that, in the end, coming up short, but they gave it all I could.

We do have one gold medalled today from Helen Glover and Heather

Stanning, and before we hand back, it is an emotional moment, you know

the guy is so well, you have offered them advice and counselling

and stuff, and you have seen the younger ones develop as tremendous

athletes, it is an emotional moment when the goal that you have set

yourself you fall short of, because there is only one winner. Let's

talk about Helen and Heather, because their lives will never be

the same after today, will they? It is a grandiose thing to say, but it

is true. It is true, it is true, especially the way that the sport

is now in this country, that they are megastars, and the way they

have conducted themselves through the last two and a half years has

been absolutely immense. Absolutely fantastic. When I won the gold

medal in 1984, I knew all our medallists from the last six games

by name, and I thought, I'm in that boot. I came back, and it was not

like that. Now it is different, these people will be heroes, and

rightly so. Excellent, that is it from us at Eton Dorney for today.

It almost feels like we are ending on a Downer, but we shouldn't,

because the men's eight have won a heroic bronze medal, and on top of

the tree our first gold-medallists of London 2012. We can all

celebrate that, and hopefully we will have more for you over the

next few days, Matt. Come on, Bradley! What a morning at Eton

Dorney, I am sure you were standing screaming at the television, just

incredible achievement from our British rowers. Now, attention

turns to the time-trial, and we have two competitors going today,

Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Pooley, both already Olympics other

medallists, but it is Marianne Vos of the Netherlands he was probably

the favourite here. Lizzie is shortly to be set in off, but let's

get over to Chris Boardman and Huw Porter, who can take us through the

static house is going to get a huge ovation, because it is Lizzie

Armitstead from Great Britain, who will be chasing down Ellen van Dijk.

Getting back to the split times at 9.1 kilometres, we have had four

riders through their at this stage, and the quickest is still Pia

Sundstedt of Finland, the only rider to have gone inside the 15

minute barrier. I think Ellen van Dijk will be better when she gets

there, she is the national time- trial champion, she was aggressive

in the road race, and I think she will be top five. Audrey Cordon of

France goes second, 18 seconds slower than Pia Sundstedt of

Finland. This is Lizzie Armitstead, the 23-year-old from Ockley in

Yorkshire were thrilled us all with that brilliant bike ride in the

road race, when she got the silver medal, chasing Marianne Vos all way

home to the line in the heady, rainy conditions. So she is not a

pure time trial, but she is very gutsy, and from the form I saw that

she has got in the road race, you never know, she could surprise.

think the former's there, but to be fair to Lizzie, she has done her

job. This is a bonus right for her, she could do without the pressure,

just go as hard as she can. She does not tend to win time-trials,

but she is generally top five or top 10 in the ones that she has

ridden this year. An aggressive start, she will ride as hard as she

can and see what she can get out of this experience. Of course, she is

very talented, multi-talented, a former world champion for team

pursuit, and she has been on the podium in the points raised and the

scratch race at world championships. -- race. She elected not to be part

of the squad, she wants to concentrate just on the road, and

that his testimony to the death and pedigree that she has. She is out

there now on the time-trial. That is the time for Tatiana Antoshina,

so in the early stages, Chris, it is Pia Sundstedt he was the only

one inside 15 minutes. Three seconds in it, all to play for

still at this stage. It is about pacing your effort over the full

distance here. The speed is comparatively low, I have to say, I

expected a little bit more than that. It is the flattest section of

the course, a mechanical there on a line, that is not going to help

your concentration. Eight more competitors to go, and this is Emma

Johansson. Now, Emma Johansson was second in the road race in Beijing.

She chose down Nicole Cooke in the sprint in knows very wet conditions.

She is also using a rather strange flying saucer shape of Helmut there.

Trying to spread the airflow over the shoulders. 14th, then, in the

road race, the time-trial I should say last year, and they are

handsome, to Judith Arndt, who went on to win the world title. -- in my

Johansson. A good ride in a road race at the weekend. She is always

there in the next, just 27 seconds back on the winner. You can look

out third Johansson today, very consistent, does well in the stage

races. We were making the point earlier that riding a stage race

time-trial is different to being prepared for this. That is Marianne

Vos, already with a gold medal in her pocket, thinking about number

two as we switch back to Amber Neben, the 37-year-old American.

Very good against the clock. She is an experienced competitor. We would

expect to see something from her in his race, she won the national

championships back in June. Faith in the world championships in

Copenhagen, 41 seconds short of Olympic champion and world champion

later, Kristin Armstrong. She has not had an ideal build-up, she has

been out with injury. Amber Neben finished very heavily on the road

race, slipped away at the end, saving her legs for this event.

Next to come into the starting house will be Emma Pooley, and she

is going to get a huge ovation from a very, very big crowd. She did

well in support of Lizzie Armitstead in the road event. If

this had been more hilly, I would have let down for a medal. I still

think she could podium, she has got the form, and riding in front of

her home crowd, who knows? She has reviewed this caused quite a lot,

actually. I was present on one occasion, they are really taking it

quite seriously. She would be more suited to a hilly course, but her

form is great, we saw that in the road race. Working hard on the flat,

not just on the climbs. We might get a glimpse of Lizzie Armitstead,

out on the course, but Emma Pooley, silver medal-winner in Beijing when

she chased home Kristin Armstrong, denied gold by 24 seconds because

of that long downhill from the summit of the circuit, down the

Expressway, that denied her the gold medal. On the flat, she will

easily be equal to the rest of the opposition. She has been the world

champion at this, and she also got the bronze medal in Copenhagen.

Emma Pooley SATs off and she will get a huge ovation all the way

around the course. -- sets also but we are hoping for a medal despite

the flat nature of the course. form is good, and that overrules

all. You can see that she is in great shape from a muscle

definition. Watching every move on the road race, clearly on form. She

has ridden these roads on several occasions. She has written these

roads with national coach Chris Newton. Now, here comes the new

leader, Olga Zabelinskaya, as we predicted, she has sliced a

previous -- a massive amount on the previous leaders time. We can look

to below 14 when the big stars of the time-trial arrive. The next

competitor that is going to start his Clara Hughes, 39 years of age,

and what a superstar she is. She got a bronze medal in the Olympic

Games in Atlanta and back in 1996, and of course Clara Hughes has been

a gold medal winner for the 5,000m on the speed skating discipline as

well, so she is a multi- talented athlete. Here she is, she was very

aggressive in the road race, and she did a lot of riding at the