BBC One: Day 7: 11.20-13.00 Olympics

She has had a fantastic time. You will be busy with rowing. It will

be a very busy man -- busy morning, so get your tissues ready. We will

be focusing on events at Eton Dorney, and here is what coming up.

The men's pair has brought six This is the first British man squad

to reach the final. -- men's quad. Send your positive vibes down the

television at 12:10pm, and we will do our best to help Katherine

Grainger and Alan -- and a Watkins. Alan Campbell faces a tough

challenge. What a morning it is going to be down there. It is set

to be a very emotional morning with Rowe was planning to retire and

realise lifetime ambitions. They will be hoping to hear the national

anthem played at Eton Dorney, and the theme has been inspiring a

generation throughout the whole of Britain. If you are at home,

plotting to become Britain's next greatest Olympian, who is the story

of the man who currently holds that I always enjoyed athletics, 100m,

relays, then the head of the English department asked me if I

would like to try rowing. I went out once a week, and I would have

done anything to get out of scull in those days so I fell in love

with it. After a few weeks I started going down every day after

scull. It doesn't seem so long since I was doing it. You pull into

the car-park, and I feel I should be walking into the changing room.

After a few weeks he asked me if I would like to do a race. Never even

dreaming of thinking we could win, but we did go on and win that race,

and from that race on there was no looking back. That first season, we

entered seven events and we won all of them. The next season was not

quite as successful and I suppose when you start losing races, that

is when the competitive edge comes in. This is all the athletes that

have competed and won gold medals at the Olympic Games. I went to the

world championships in 1983 in Germany, and I wasn't ready for it.

I didn't get good results and that was a blessing in disguise in many

ways because this was a shot in the arm, you are not as good as you

think you are. I changed the way I trained to do more endurance work

and within nine months I became Olympic champion. The four men who

might be recognised in the folklore of this place. I can't say I am

very enamoured by the drawings but it is nice to half. I came down

with diabetes three years before Sydney and I was expected to be

told that was my rowing career over. I went and saw the specialist. He

turned round to me and said I don't see why you can't achieve your

dreams and compete in Sydney. Most people think it must be terrible

being diabetic - what happens when you come to race? Actually the

racing was the easy part of it. Gray Britain get the gold medal!

orderly you feel the pain. You don't really feel it with in the

race but you are gasping for breath. I remember thinking this really

hurts, and that will last about 10 minutes but you will be five times

Olympic champion for the rest of your life. If you would like to get

involved in Olympic sports, go to the BBC website for more

information. Here at is Steve and myself, nestling underneath the

umbrella as the rain comes down. The main talking point has been the

wind, which has meant the lanes have been redrawn. It is a few

minutes before the men's race. haven't had a very good season.

There are some talented men in that boat. They have had some results

which have given them the opportunity of thinking they could

opportunity of thinking they could do quite well. They could surprise

a couple of other competitors here, they could get a medal. I was just

looking at the flags, the redrawing of the lanes looks like it is

starting to change around. It looks like it could be a tail wind so

they could be on the right side of the lake. The interesting. No

possibility of a further redraw? they change quickly enough and

dramatically enough, I hope so because it is about having a fair

race. For the British competitors, this is there a moment and it is

the penultimate day of the rowing so we have only a day and a bit to

enjoy the dulcet tones of our commentators.

They have already made history get into this final but the journey is

far from over for Great Britain. Even lane number two, we are just

looking at the Estonian team. On the redraw, given the wind

conditions, Croatia and Germany find themselves in lanes 5 and 6.

We can't expect too much with the conditions here, but the fastest

are Croatia and Germany. Great Britain have to get into the first

five, and then anything is possible. Great Britain lagging behind there

in the first couple of strobes. In lane two. Australia three. Estonia

four. Croatia five. Unbeaten throughout the 2012 World Cup

season. The Germans are the world silver medallist, they sit in lane

six. Australia, as the mark, are the world champions. They have not

had a great time during the World Cup season, Noonan was unwell. He

has recovered now, but he did have to take two or three months out,

but, he is a great stroke. He is their inspiration, he is the guy

who will try to lead them on. Great Britain were slow off the start and

they are notoriously slow off the start. But they are in the hunt,

moving ahead of Poland, and up there alongside Australia, not a

bad position to be in. They are moving well. It is fantastic to see

a British quad here in an Olympic final. It is the first time we have

ever seen that and they are doing us proud. Nothing to lose.

Everything to gain. Great Britain in lane number two, we are coming

up towards the first timing mark, and it is going well for our

British boys, there they are. Top of the picture, one down. Germany

lead though, going through the mark. Great Britain currently in bronze

medal position. Listen to that. That is the crowd. That is the

fifth person in this boat for Great Britain. Looking now, though at

Germany in lane six. The world silver medallist. They are the

leaders, they have taken it on. They half a length on Croatia who

are the fastest crew in this event, or have been through the season.

Germany are very strong and they love this vent. Germany just feel

the Quad rum sculls, is what they were built for. They are big,

strong solid athletes and they are on the best lane. The breeze just

settling a bit in this middle thousand of the final, the British

though, two down from the top, going very well. Now the problem

here, the issue for Great Britain is really keeping it going. Keeping

their momentum, the breeze on the top will affect them slightly, but

they just maintain the belief, maintain the belief every troebg is

a stroke for a medal. The rain has flattened down the the wind a bit.

The water seems a bit better. Germany, look across there, from

the Bowman, from shuts, he will be anxious that Croatia doesn't start

to push on in the middle 1,000 here. It does look like Cray a sha are

challenging and pushing on. At the At the half way mark Germany

easings out Great Britain. Who are still in bronze medal. This is

going to go to the wire here. In the final of the men's heavyweight

quadruple sculls. Poland in one. Great Britain, in the bow seat.

These guys are sculling with such belief in their own ability, they

are coached by Mark Bags and there is none finer to take these four

young guys into an Olympic final, and towards and Olympic medal.

Australian Olympic crew have just moved ahead. The sthrail Januarys

have just moved ahead of Great Britain, pushed them back-in to

fourth. But they are leading the Olympic champions, from Poland.

They are leading Estonia, that has got them in fourth. And if they can

find something that works for them in the last five or 600 metres that

will be fantastic. They have half a length to CAB catch up on,

Australia. Croatia have to push on against Germany who are leading.

we come to the last quarter mark of this A final, all these quads now

starting to build up. They will come into this sprint, the Germans

now closest to us have gone, they have gone up to 38, 39 strokes per

minute. The British must go with them. Matt Wells, Tom soels bri

your time is now, the time to move. 500 metres remain,. Only 50 strokes

left. The British slipping down fifth. We need a rocket and we need

it now. Germany extend their lead. Croatia haven't been unbeaten. But

they have nowhere to go. They have a length, look at Germany go. That

is an extraordinary piece of rowing. They have moved a length-and-a-half

ahead. Australia come into third. They might catch Croatia. Croatia

suffering badly. The Australians in lane three sense their opportunity.

They sense that Croatia are fading. The Croatians in silver but Germany

looking very dominant out front here. Surely no-one can catch the

German, the British have got two 50 metres, 25 stroke, they have to do

something. They need a miracle. They need magic to get on to the

medal podium but, but outfront Germany are leading in such style.

And look at Croatia, really struggling. I think they will get

the silver medal. That will not satisfy them, but will be a

disappointment. But Australia quantative eased into third place.

Great scull from them and Great Britain back in fifth. Coming up to

the finishing line. Great Britain back in fifth place here and surely

one last push from the Aussie, Germany are the Olympic champions,

holding on there Croatia are the world silver medallists and

Australia get the bronze today. And Great Britain, well it was a brave

and valiant effort from the British boys but it was only fifth on the

day. That is what it means. They took it by the scruff of the neck.

Right from the early stages here, we knew the two fastest crews would

come from lane six and five. It seemed to me that Great Britain put

everything into that first thousand, and they had a brilliant rhythm

here, but you can just see that without taking anything away from

what has been an outstanding scull here, the British really struggled

in that third five, into that cross head breeze and it just took them

off the edge. But still an amazing, absolutely outstanding achievement

for the British crew. They came into the record books to come into

this final. A fifth place is something, when it boils down, is

it -- it is something they can be proud of. The crew behind them are

the Olympic champions twice, Poland, out there in lane six. So Germany

are the new Olympic champion, Croatia get the silver, Australia

the bronze and Great Britain are the bronze and Great Britain are

fifth today. Knowing those guys they won't regard it as a success

to get the final. They will have be hoping for more than that. That is

when in the cold light of day you have to rationalise what you have

achieve and banish the disappointment you will experience.

At this stage you have put everything in to trying to win, get

a medal, and they are done everything right so far, getting

into the final. This the realisation of what it is. It is

not until hours later days later or weeks later you think fifth place,

what they have done this season is an excellent result. Matt wells in

the stroke position, absolutely out on his feet, but just exhausted,

there was nothing more they could have done. That is what you want.

You don't want to sit back in your arm chair and say, I was there, if

we had just done this, think this and think you might have done it.

They have laid it on the line, and you can't, you can't complain with

that. I suppose it is harder, because of the success that is

almost running through the whole British rowing team, you almost

worry about where you are in the pecking order. There is going to be,

we hope, more than one team of gold medallist, we have a silver medal

already. There will be others between now and close of play

tomorrow. You almost don't want to be in the relegation zone

effectively of what is an unbelievably successful squad. But

you are not. You got a final. 13 boats in 13 finals out of 14.

That is incredible. The reality is, is that of really sort of, of

syncing in. We had one or two boats that may have pinched it in my day,

you didn't want to be don with them, you wanted to be with the other

best crews. Now even is looking at Great Britain. David Tanner, was

talking with pride earlier none the programme, about what a fantastic

games these have been, but the icing on the cake would be if

Katherine Grainger was to win her first Olympic gold medal to go with

her three silvers. Matthew Pinsent saw the two girls get into their

boat a few moments ago. So, this is a stressful moment for all of us

because the women's double scull of Grainger and Watkins are taking to

the water. It is very difficult for me to sum up how I feel and harder

for me to sum up how they feel. Their heart will be beating. They

have had a quick, brief chat with their coach, Paul Thomson, who just

finished with shoulder shake, I guess you call it, a friendly shake

on the shoulder. And out they go on to the water. Katherine Grainger

was delighted with her silver in Sydney. Slightly less delighted

with silver in Athens. And absolutely distraught with a silver

medal in Beijing. If we could pick one boat out of the whole goodbye

regatta that was going to win, we would all pick this one. If willing

if such a thing exists if willing was an Olympic sport 30,000 people

round here would be Olympic gold medallists, everybody is willing

her and Anna to be victorious. is not just our country that wants

them to win, that round the boat house other countries, they all

want her to win. I heard a great story from a spectator who said I

want to tell you a Katherine Grainger story. I said go on. She

said her niece had written to her to try and get a signed photo of

her and out of blue she doesn't live that far away from here, out

of the blue one evening Catherine turned up, unannounced at their

house, with a picture of herself, and you know, and obviously as she

was there they could take a picture any way and this little girl was, I

think she said she was ten or 11, couldn't believe somebody could

take that time, randomly and do that, because that is the kind of

person he is. That is why she is loved by everybody, not just our

country but others, there was a lot of people that would like to be

here today, because of this race. If we talk about Catherine's career,

you know, the first silver medal she won in Sydney, because of the

way we the media are presenting this, it is almost as though she

was favourite three times and every time it has been snatched from hem

her, but that is distorting the truth. The silver medal in Sid thi

was unexpected. She came into the crew quite late. We had never won a

women's medal before, so that of that was a silver medal of joy.

Four years later she was in the pair, and they were World Champions,

the year before, but weren't the favourites going into it. So that

silver medal was a half smile. The big disappoint. Was four years ago

in Beijing that, was the sort of the crowning moment. There was

going to be the time that Great Britain won their first gold medal

gold medal. Catherine was going to be it and that didn't happen. That

was the agony. Would she continue for another four years? That is why

we are here for this moment in half an hour. One of her former crew

mates has been talking to Matthew. In is the public stand, home of the

Dorney roar as it has become known in the last few day, joining that

roar today Olympic silver medallist from Athens 2004 and most

importantly, Katherine Grainger's partner in the pair Kath Bishop,

how are you feeling? I am really excited. Feeling good. What kind of

attributes, you know Herbert, does she have? She is a real racer, she

is calm under pressure, she will relish the opportunity to get out

there and race today in front of a home crowd. She loves saving her

best for a day like today. Even asks me, do you miss it, do you

want to be out there? Ofrpblgts a day like today you can kind of

think it would be nice, but as the nerves build it seems less

appealing, in the winter absolutely not. What does she go through, what

is she like in the bill up to a race? She is really calm. She will

retain her sense of humour, there will be little thing, I remember

before the races we would have chats and laugh about small mundane

things that were happening round us, she will be doing her usual pattern.

She doesn't change at all. Very calm. He is going to do it?

Absolutely will -- absolutely I have total faith.. You have one of

the best seats in the house. That is the view they get. That the

finishing line. On the the other side is us. We have three finals to

come. Alan Campbell in the single scull, ath and -- Kath and Anna are

due to be on the water in 26 minutes type. Before that we have

the men's pair. This has come out of left field. We have a medal

opportunity in a few moments time. I didn't dream we would have a pair,

when Andy and Pete stepped out and went back into the four. I didn't

think anybody would be able to fill their shoes, and these guys have, I

have been trying to get into the team for a couple of years and made

it in, got put into the air. Sort of a poisoned chalice, you in the

pair, if you make a final it will be fantastic. Tay have won their

semifinal, they have a great opportunity. Let us be realistic,

the New Zealand pair here, probably could start I mean, exaggerating

but they could almost start half an hour after every body else. I think

everyone else is racing for the silver and bronze, but our guys,

even if they came sixth it would be fantastic if they can take any

place it would be amazing. If there is one you what is Jo outstanding,

the single most in the entire regatta and everybody knows barring

some calamity happening and the boat breaking in half they are

going to win the gold, if you accept that and almost put them out

of the equation, how do you race as You race to get your best position.

Everyone will harm their own tactics to come second, or third.

Then you think if they don't perform, we will pick up the pieces.

If for whatever reason it doesn't go well - they have had food

poisoning before a major championships, and in many cases it

is the ago to excuse! But they are the favourites, New Zealand should

win. Occur only consider this a five-horse race? Basically, but

they have been in their own zone. They have gone faster in a pair

then I have ever gone in a pair, then repeated that in the semi-

final. They will be buzzing. If they can come fifth, that would be

amazing, but they are just going to go as fast as they can and if that

brings a silver medal, all well and good. We have just seen a banner

saying you do the rowing, we will make the noise. That is across the

Union Jack flag, and that is the role that 30,000 people at Eton

Dorney have been playing over the last six days. These people don't

have a seat, they're just on the riverbank. I don't know how much it

is to get in and stand here. much did you pay? Do you know, I

pay with my life. If it is not that much money, I don't suppose it is,

it is great to be part of this. these tickets could be sold three

times over. For the first 1,500m you're almost can't see anything,

and you wonder if they could have extended the grandstand. There was

talk about putting it in the start area, but there is the issue of

getting people into the venue and that is the biggest problem. Health

and safety, I suppose. Advice to two young men, 22 and 23, who could

never have imagined this - what would your last piece of advice be?

They have been dreaming of this and now this is their opportunity.

Throw within yourselves, Dick deep, and give it your best shot. Enjoy

and give it your best shot. Enjoy it. This is the race where their

dream come true. If they win, his grandfather has promised to come

and give us a kiss. You are nearer to the steps, so you will get it

the tranquillity of the start. The crowd welcoming Great Britain in

lane five. George Nash and Williams orders. This is the final of the

men's coxless pair. They could make a little bit of history for

themselves today. The lanes have been redrawn, Great Britain find

position. They are suthing in third place, they have got a good lane,

redrawing of the lanes has given them something pretty good to work

with. No-one is going to beat this outstanding New Zealand pair who

are the best boat in this whole Olympic regatta, but Great Britain

how they have come on. George Nash at stroke, rowed for Cambridge two

years ago, and he was in a pair last year with another roar and

they won the with Constantine Louloudis.. They have a chance of a

medal. Early race leaders France. They were 13th in the coxless four

at the World Championships last year. Here they are, leading the

world at the Olympic final at 500 metres gone now. The British are

just in among the pack. France leading against that New Zealand in

second. Expect the Kiwis in the all black strip the move on. They will

be unfazed going through in second. The British are sandwiched between

France, New Zealand in six, they are got to just keep ahead of where

that they are. They can't go back any further because they will get

the puddles coming from the blades on both sides. It is important they

consolidate this second 500 metres, that will give them all the

through, moving, making it look effortless and was 750 metres mark.

A simple start, just laid out beautifully, but France has really

taken it on. Great Britain have won their semi-final, that was a

fantastic performance a couple of days ago. Their big rivals are

Italy and Canada. Canada are the Olympic silver medallist. In lane

two they are at a disadvantage with the wind the way it is, but New

Zealand are the best crew - outstanding. Expect them to extend

their lead in the second half of this race. This is what they have

worked for. New Zealand, as expected, go through leading by a

length over France, which would be the surprise second place. Great

Britain moving into third. They had to consolidate this. I think they

can catch the French. They were 13th last year in the coxless four.

They have been flying out in the first half. Great Britain have

really got to get it together and believes the silver medal is a

there's. Out front, nobody will catch the New Zealanders. Looker

than go! They make it look so easy. They are out of the picture now,

that trail in the water is them. In 500m, they have taken for lengths

elegant. New Zealand are going towards their gold medal in the

men's heavyweight coxless pair. Great Britain are currently in

third place. The Italians love a fight in the second half, and they

are bringing the race now to Great Britain. We have 500m remaining in

his final of the men's coxless pair, Great Britain moving up into the

silver medal position. This is going to be a fight to the line for

the British, because France are hanging in there and the Italians

have raised their game. They are coming back at the British crew,

and bringing the French with them. This is the fight for the silver

medal now. Out of the right, that New Zealand crew. Surely they have

done enough to make it a clean sweep through this alone be gales.

Let's get back to the race. That is the race for the silver medal, and

now they are moving in. It is a wall of noise on both sides with

250 metres. Great Britain have got to go now for the medal. France are

still hanging on, Italy fighting back, look Great Britain have the

advantage of that lane. They are slipping back as sons push on again.

New Zealand will get gold, we know that, but who will get the silver

medal? The great British crew pushing hard. France have just

squeezed out, and Great Britain moving beautifully for third place.

Up to the line, the Olympic champions making it a clean sweep.

This is a fight for the silver medal right on the line, and it is

France who get the silver medal, and Great Britain get a well

deserved bronze medal. They had a great middle 1000, but it was the

experience of the French who were able to hold on, but we salute New

Zealand. They came out of the four from Beijing in 2008. Perhaps we

are seeing a moment of passing on here because New Zealand have done

everything and Great Britain will be the crew to watch in the next

four years on the rowed to Rio. Words between the old and the Neil.

The sensational finish for Great Britain. The French! For the French

were amazing. They took it and fought back against the British, it

was an extraordinary performance. For these boys, a bronze medal.

That is what it means, and a wonderful combination of George

Nash and William Satch. Make a note of those named because for the next

four years, they will rise, and they will be the stars of the

was a fantastic performance, let's not overlook the New Zealanders.

Everybody said this was the biggest certainty of the entire eight days

of competition, and so it has been. They have delivered, they are an

outstanding pair. Yes, they were favourites going into the last

Olympic Games in their four and produced a dreadful performance.

The New Zealand team were favourites going in to win most of

the medals and didn't perform well. Since then, they have taken it by

the scruff of the neck and now they have an Olympic gold medal. May be

these boys will emulate that in years to come. As I said on the

first day, I remember meeting William Satch's grandfather here on

the riverbanks six years ago, and he came up to me and said my

grandson is competing here and in a few years he will be in the Olympic

Games. Lo and behold, that happened, and not only in the Olympic Games,

but tears on the podium. If you are watching at home, and you have a

child of 15, 16, it can be them in a few years. I have just had the

Kiwis jumping on my back as they walked over, congratulating them. I

don't know if George Nash knew what was going on here because they were

You are George's mum, Stech dad here, tell me how you are feeling.

Very proud. And quite relieved that it is all over! Extraordinary

amount of emotion for you during that race, did you think they could

win a medal? Yes, I did, actually, I was confident they stood a good

chance of bronze macro. How were you doing that race? I'll always

calm, as you know! You are known to cry, but I cried through the whole

bloody race! What about when they came past? I was sitting next to

Charles Wigan, who one a bronze back in Moscow, and he thought they

might get silver, but it was so close, 22 at 23 years of age, they

were not expected. Steve pointed out that they were very much a la

boat, and they have come away with an alleged egg bronze medal. Well

done, congratulations do both. Here are Britain's latest medallists at

London 2012, how could does that sound? Pretty good, yeah! I cannot

really believe it. Six months ago, I do not know about George, but I

did not even think I would be coming here as a spare. We seemed

to turn it on on the day, George likes a race, so he took the first

kilometre. I think I should probably keep talking to you! Get

your breath back, George. Talk us through the race, because the

French went out big, and then there was the inevitability of the New

Zealanders winning, so from 1,000 onwards, how did you view the race?

I think our plan from the beginning, when we spoke to Christiane, we

knew the key words were fast, everyone knows that, the best boat

in the Alan ex. We just wanted to keep it simple, and we did. I think

we tended on in the second half. We kept it simple, raw, basic. I have

got all the confidence in the world in him. I am a bit worried that you

are not out of breath at all, you must have done all work! Just

unreal. Last question, I must ask you this, we have mentioned it a

couple of times, I sat the Gestede father six years ago, he said, my

son is a rower, he will be in the Olympics in four years' time, and

it has happened! Yes, stuck to the plan. Some people might never make

it, but finding it fun, I have really liked it at the club,

university, plugging away at something that I wanted to do. It

feels like a dream has come true today, so I am pretty happy. George,

go and have a lie-down, fantastic, well done.

Teague moving, don't lie down! How good was that? I cannot say.

they the future? Without a doubt. Will is a big guy, he could row in

any of the boats, really solid. I was a little bit concerned in the

last 250 metres, you can see how George is tired, the boat was

coming over the buoys, and I was concerned they would go out of the

lane. They could have been disqualified. Luckily, New Zealand

had gone, so they were not interfering with anybody. Amazing

performance, absolutely fantastic goal one we did not expect. One we

do expect is coming up in 6 1/2 minutes' time, the women's double

scull. We are trying desperately hard to take emotion out of this,

because there's no room for sympathy in sport, you win or you

lose, and Kath Grainger knows that only too well after three silver

medals in Sydney, Athens and Beijing. Her story, six minutes

away from her date with destiny, told by the people who know her

Katherine has always been, even when we were little kids,

determined and sporty. She has always had a passion for winning,

doing her best. When it is about taking part for us, she is

definitely the opposite. From a very early age, when we were just

googling around in college boats, she was incredibly determined and

very focused, and she did not take failure very well either. It is a

cliche to say that an athlete is passionate, but Katherine

absolutely loves racing, she just loves doing the sport and raising

people and seeing what she can get out of it. -- racing. The story

goes she was walking through the street one day at one of the

freshers Fairs, and a guy said, You are the right build for rowing, and

she did. We decided that she was going to be able to row, that she

would be a great asset, and we kind of taught her to row, really, how

to move a boat. In silver Place, Britain! We got it! The three

silvers are the headline, but people forget the joy of the first

one, Sydney was not expected, and she was as high as a kite, and

deservedly so. It was the first women's medal for GB, and when they

went to Athens, they thought they would medal but they were not sure

of the competition. To go silver again, they say they are the happy

We thought they were going to do it, we really did. It was almost like

it was a dead cert, and that is a lot of pressure, I think, for

incredible amount our speed, this surely cannot be happening! Just in

that last 400m, you just felt sick, it was awful. It is China for the

gold medal, another silver for Great Britain. At the

disappointment for Great Britain, and also for Katherine Grainger.

99.9% of the rowers in the world would give their right arm to the

Anna Olympic medallists, but you after the amount of pressure that

she had at Beijing, that this time round, maybe because of her age or

whatever, things would not be so hot, but she is it, she is the one

everyone is watching. I think when you see them, they have different

strengths. I think when times get tough, they pull together, and it

is a really nice relationship, they are like a family unit. They spend

so much time together. I really want her to have the fairy-tale

ending. It isn't my interest, too, to make that happen! -- be it is in

my interest, too. She is the best rower never to have won 8 gold

medal. I don't want that to carry We keep talking about Katherine

Grainger as if she is the only person in the boat, but Anna

Watkins, I'm sure that refers to her. You do the rowing, we will

make the noise. What does that say? Love, tickle monster, slightly

obscured by one of the gamesmakers. I am not sure what that means.

Analytically, let's talk about the race, tactics. Tactics is do what

you have been doing all season, last season and the season before.

They do not have to do anything special, they have just got to

produce what they produce all the time. I was with them last week and

we were talking about it and saying, what you want to do is just produce

a good result, you don't have to do what you did four years ago, worry

about the other boats. Do your thing, you are not going to lose.

And they know that. They want to have a good race, they want to do

this in style. Is it about being aggressive from the word go, or

controlled? They are fast starters, they like to be out in the league.

Their main opposition is the Australians. The girl in the bow

seat is in the single sculls final tomorrow, she has had a lot of

races to get here, and that will not play on her mind too much,

because this is the final that they think they can win, the Australians.

But the Australians were very strong in the middle of the race

when they raised last, and I just cannot say anything happen other

than Great Britain winning. -- spoken about so much before the

Games began, and when you think of the marquee names for London's oh

in the build up, Bradley Wiggins has delivered, Chris Hoy, Jessica

Ennis has not after a fantastic start in the Olympic Stadium this

morning, now Katherine Grainger, it is overdue, Dan and Gary. -- over

to you. You join as with Poland in lane

three, New Zealand will be in lane number of four. I will let the

Katherine Grainger as long and established career, she leaves the

start-line in an Olympic final, her life to be defined in the next 6

British crew are off nice and quick. They are out and leading! They are

leading, and it is the Australians next to them in six who are their

biggest threat. Kim Crow must start feeling it in the legs, she is

doubling up, she is in the single sculls as well. She raced yesterday

in the semi-finals, it is hard to keep focusing on these races, but

mentally I think probably now she is thinking are silver. But

Katherine Grainger, she has to be the favourite, stay long, stay

relaxed, stay focused and just enjoy this, because you shall the

Queen! Kim Crow and Brooke Pratley of Australia tracking hard now. The

rate, if you look at Great Britain 1 up from the bottom, taking a

number of strokes, a little bit more than the Australian crew. The

Australian crew have settled, but this is the Great Britain crew on a

mission. What Great Britain wants to do is take the legs out of the

Australians as much as they can. They know that Kim Crow has had

three races already. Already through the first quarter, listen

to the crowd! Taking them through that 500m mark, Great Britain from

Australia, Poland in third place. It is a steely look of

determination, a little cool from Anna Watkins, such a fantastic

combination, they are friends, they are team-mates, and right now they

are sharing a huge destiny. Great Britain leading, Australia's second.

At it is a dream partnership, a dream partnership, they have been

so dominant, unbeaten since they got together two years ago, but

Australia are putting up a very good defence, Australia hanging on,

half a length down, but I would see the second half Robinho, where the

British double will really start to work. This is the one where they

want to show the world what they can do, and they will fly from

1,000m on. I impressed by the way that the Australians are holding on.

-- I am impressed. Looking good for the British double scull, look at

that, not to be crossed. Katherine Grainger, Anna Watkins have eased

out, they are up two thirds of a length over Australia. Surely now

we are down to two boats in his final, chasing the gold medal. We

cannot and will not for allow ourselves to discount Australia,

but it is Great Britain and Australia moving away now. Look at

Australia, the disconnect as Kim Crow goes in before her stroke, you

see? She is taking the work early, and that is going to hurt over the

next 1,000m. Look at the Great Britain double, perfect timing.

are through the halfway mark now in the final of the women's double

sculls, two-thirds of a length, Great Britain over Australia. Only

1,000m now left in his final for the British to just move on, cool,

calm heads here from the British double, Katherine Grainger in the

stroke seat, backed up by such a phenomenal athlete, Anna Watkins,

29 years of age. Katherine Grainger from St Andrews Boat Club, six

world rowing championship gold medals, it is all irrelevant now as

Great Britain mot about for the length! If they can break free now,

they are away! Two strokes a minute lower than Australia and they are

stretching their lead. They are staying long, staying relaxed, that

is really the key. They must not tighten up, and they will not,

because the experience they have got in that boat is absolutely

second to no one. That is focused, that is calm, that is long, that is

a fantastic display. Just imagine, they have broken free, imagine what

is going through their minds here, the adrenalin must be coming

through their bodies, they are inside 750 metres, they have clear

water now, Anna and Katherine are away, and this is just a phenomenal

scull! OK, guys, let's do this, let's finish the story! Australia

have been broken, back to 33 strokes per minute, they are

realising that silver is what they are going to get, and here go Great

Britain. They are going to fly away, they are going to win by lengths

and lengths. If the crowd opposite are going absolutely wild, they are

shouting GB, GB, and that will be the noise that this doubles goal

from Great Britain will need in a little over 200m. 1,500 down, look

at the crowd on the far side, it is a sell-out at Eton Dorney for at

the most important final here on this whole the Olympic regatta. The

British are a way clear of Australia. Australia still holding

on, they look like they will falling back. The angle gets you a

little bit, they are only about a length and a half down, still

fighting back. Kim Crow, a real competitor, so strong, but it is

Great Britain for his last 400m, and the crowd will rise to them,

here comes the next Great Britain gold medal. Fantastic performance.

It has taken 12 long years, a sign of support, and the crowd are on

their feet, the flags are going mad, they are into the noise, a

cacophony around here, the whole of the media stand are on their feet,

we are applauding you, Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins, but the

Australian crew know that they have 25 strokes remaining, they are

pushing hard. 200 out from the line. Katherine Grainger is taking it up

to 40 strokes per minute, this is their display, this is their final

turn, this is her gold medal! crowd absolutely adore him what

they are seeing now, Australia still, hard, but, ladies and

gentlemen, what we are seeing right now fears that dreams do come true,

and Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins are going to win a gold

medal in the women's double sculls! I thought Australia was going to

fall back, but they are fighting on, a length and a half. But there they

are. Up to the line, Great Britain deliver! A Olympic champions,

Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins, and there is not a pair that is so

deserving of this moment here, a fabulous result for Great Britain,

they are, at long, long last, Katherine Grainger is the Olympic

champion, and the crowd and going and Katherine Grainger, a dream

come true. That is a wonderful performance. What a great show from

Australia. They never gave up. was as if it was meant to be. Not

in Sydney 12 years ago, nor Athens or Beijing, but the Robling gods

here looked down at Eton Dorney and said to Great Britain's Katherine

Grainger and Anna Watkins, your gold medal will come in front of a

home crowd. What a performance that was. Poland in third. These are the

winners, the champions. All credit to them. So glad that she didn't

retire, and so she. Katherine now at Eton. The second gold medal

from the British team here. What a performance. They took it out, they

had a magnificent 1,000m. They kept calm heads in that last 500. Out

quick. The first 100 they were gone. They had a lead that put the

pressure on Australia. There really was only one boat in this. I've

never seen such a look of determination and sheer drive from

anybody. Katherine Grainger, but we salute also Anna Watkins. Now we

have two cruise of British women in role in winning gold medals in one

year. That must surely be the image spectacular! As she went over the

line she said, oh, my God! Great Britain are the Olympic champions.

Australia get the silver and Poland I'm joined by Liz and Peter Granger.

The Grainger Odyssey is over. hope so! She hasn't ruled out Rio.

That was an extraordinary race, an extraordinary four years. What did

you go through in that six minutes? I don't know. We went into Beijing

hoping, really hoping that that would be the medal. It wasn't.

Until the finishing line I wasn't prepared to bank on anything.

Because there were moments in the middle of that race that the

Australians hung on quite a lot. Yes. But then Katherine has always

said they have always had something in hand. I was less worried about

that. Turn the screws and that will be it. Finally, can you some of

what it means to your family and Katherine? Huge, huge pride in

Katherine. She's done so much and she deserves this so much. Huge

relief, huge release but mostly pride. Enjoy the ceremony. More

The pictures that need no words. Steve Redgrave with Katherine and

Anna Watkins at the moment of We spoke about the demotion

beforehand and having to banish that because sport is a serious

business and there is a job to be done, and boy have they done it,

Can I talk to the Olympic champion, please? Where, where? She's finally

here! You did it. Yeah, worth the wait. It's been a long time coming.

Steve promised me it would be tears of joy this time, which they are.

But there are less tears than there were in Beijing. A lot less. There

was a job to do and you've just done it in such an emphatic manner.

That's what it felt like. But both of us, we absolutely knew we had

all the goods to perform. It was about delivering today. It's just

that satisfaction of a job well done. And for you? I just can't

believe it. I have to ask Katherine if it was a dream. I tried to keep

my mind away from this moment. It didn't seem real. We've had so many

successful racers, this is just another race. But it was the right

one. I can't quite believe we got to this point. You've done 1000

interviews in the last four years and everybody in the course of them

has asked you exactly the same question - was it worth making the

decision to carry on, can you get that elusive gold medal in London?

You must have thought, please, just leave me alone! Now we don't ever

have ask you that question again. No, what will you ask? To be honest,

I feel this medal of all of them is the people's medal. I feel so many

people have been behind me and supported me and wanted this for me

as much as I have most of the way. I kinda feel it is off the back of

everyone I've ever worked with, everyone who has helped me. I come

back to my family who were there from the beginning, to my friends

at school, university, every person has been a part of this. It makes

it feel so much more special. interviewed your mum and dad and

they've said, don't rule out Rio. Yeah, my mum is a bit nervous in

she first heard word of Rio. Maybe she fancies a holiday there.

think she does. She said she found this one the least stressful of all

of them. Steve, thoughts? Fantastic. Nice what you said there, it's the

people's medal. The people are going to enjoy it but it's your

medal up. Fantastic and very well deserved. All we can say is

everybody watching, I know some many people who have said, the one

thing I must see it is at lunchtime on Friday. Thank you. We will see

you on the podium shortly. Sing loud. Anna Watkins and Katherine

Grainger are Olympic champions, like you always said it would be.

Never in doubt. All credit to the Australians, they did what they did

in Munich. They pushed them very hard in that second 500. I never

had a doubt. Certainly when they started racing anyway. Our floor

manager was... As said, Chris, it's done and dusted. Let me stop you,

let's go to Matt Pinsent. I'm joined during the New Zealand

national anthem by Caroline and Richard Bevington. Extraordinary

emotions during that race. What did you go through? Agony. You're just

waiting for the bow to move in front. It's been a long wait since

Monday. You just wanted to see them on the water and rutting. Their

normal patterns to go ahead. Just relief when you started to see

everything go ahead. The Australians were very close, closer

than I was comfortable with. Does their dominance they give you any

cause for confidence? It does, but the things can go wrong. You can

see things go wrong in races here. You just wish and hope that

everything is going to be fine during that. Caroline, can you some

of what it means to her? I think she will be so happy and so

relieved. She didn't want to let anyone down, she didn't want to let

her family down or the team down all the fans. She will be really

thrilled. There's been lots of coverage about Katherine,

understandably so. Anna has been a little in the shadow to a certain

extent. She doesn't mind that. She's happy with how things are and

she is OK with that. She will be thrilled today to get the gold.

your daughter now is Anna Watkins, Olympic champion. She is. Well done

to you both. Thank you very much little while ago. But what a

fantastic moment but two young men, 22 and 23 years old, who, as they

said in the interview afterwards, barely thought they'd be here six

months ago, let alone on a podium with a bronze medal around their

necks. Welcome to the future of British rowing. These guys are

undoubtedly are going to be the fair wind in Rio and wherever the

2020 games happened to take place. We have Alan Campbell coming up

shortly in the men's single sculls. The noise here was such a tumult, I

wonder if he was able to hear any of it down at the start. He will be

in his vacuum, focusing on getting a medal for Northern Ireland in a

few moments time. With a final thought about what Katherine and

Anna have a cheap, it's very unfair to give Amer the and the bowling

but that is the consequence of Katherine having been around for so

long, but that is a reward for a commitment to a sport and

commitment to her own ambitions that was fully deserved. There was

talk a little bit before off-camera about, would she be the greatest

woman athlete row were not to win a gold medal? You start going through

your mind about great golfers who have never won, that sort of thing.

But that his grade -- well deserved. After now she will probably not

stop. It she did, that would be a crowning moment to go out.

Absolutely fantastic. The story of British medals so far in the Games.

We've had a Scottish triumph. Can we have a triumph for Northern

Ireland? Alan Campbell, from Coleraine, the loneliest discipline

of them are all, one man on his own in the boat. You saw the piece that

we did earlier in the programme, where on Christmas Day he was out

there training, pounding the beaches of Northern Ireland. He's

been thinking about that day all the way through until this moment,

the final of the men's single sculls. The cheer in a few moments

time for Alan Campbell will be with Alan Campbell this morning.

What a moment there, words between New Zealand, in lane five. The

lanes have been redrawn for this final due to weather conditions

that set in earlier this morning. We will have to see whether that

has a psychological impact on Alan Campbell. In lane three, already he

is out like a rocket. But he has to be because they are traditionally

he is a technical genius, really, he moves his boat beautifully. Alan

Campbell was in a lane five until the lanes were redrawn a couple of

hours ago, and he now finds itself in three. That is quite a tough

call. The guy on his left, Lassi Karonen beat him in Munich at the

last regatta, and he has to make sure he is in front of him. Look at

the guys running along with the unions black, they are going to

chase Alan Campbell all the way down the course. -- the Union flag.

That is how much support the British team have and Alan Campbell

has. There's not a person around here who does not want to see Alan

on the medal podium. At the moment he is in fourth place. Mahe

Drysdale, an injured rib, being a bit CAFO as he comes up to the

first 500 mark. -- a bit careful. 1,500m remaining now, and Lassi

Karonen from Sweden is taking on the lead from Alan Campbell. This

is a critical, critical part of the race, the next 200. Alan went out

quickly, and now as they all come into their rhythm, this is where

they lay down the first market here. Alan Campbell is a bit lower in his

stroke rate than he usually is. Is at 34 per minute, you would expect

to see him pushing it on a bit, really taking it arm, especially

because he knows there will be a disadvantage in the wind later on.

The overhead camera view, these gladiators now heading down towards

the halfway mark. There's not a lot in it here, really, isn't this

fantastic?! This is sculling at its very highest level, and this is now

psychological warfare. Alan Campbell is in amongst it all, very

solid, very calm, very steady there. Ondrej Synek, closest to us, he is

now really stretching out, stretching out, the attack is

coming from New Zealand come from Mahe Drysdale. Lassi Karonen has

done his best and is beginning to slip back. As his Marcel hacker

from Germany at the top of the picture. Aleksandar Aleksandrov is

surely just hanging on in lane two, the Azerbaijani was nine that the

world championships last year, and events that saw Mahe Drysdale

winning it. Alan Campbell took the bronze medal on that occasion.

Campbell is on for a medal here, he is in a good position. The first

two are probably beyond them, I think. Through the halfway mark,

1,000m remaining in his final, Alan Campbell in bronze medal position.

The last 200m just saw Mahe Drysdale and Ondrej Synek of New

Zealand and Czech Republic really kicking out. They said, and none of

this, somebody has got to take it on. It is almost like a peloton in

cycling terms, and now Mahe Drysdale and Ondrej Synek have

taken it on, and Alan will not roll over, he refuses to be left behind,

and Alan Campbell of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a lane

three is starting to mount his challenge again. These two are

going to fight it out, they have started early. Ondrej Synek would

not have wanted to go so early, but he is really holding on to Mahe

Drysdale. As these two battle it out, they could actually play into

Alan Campbell's hands, but he has a lot to do, he has to get away from

Lassi Karonen of Sweden in lane four. I have never seen a Mahe

Drysdale sculling so well, so much better connected than he was, and

his power is really telling now. Ondrej Synek is going to have used

all his magic to get back on terms. As we come towards the final timing

marker into the last quarter, the 1,500m approaching, Mahe Drysdale

has just pushed on, a little look to the left. He has driven on hard

and has moved out probably three feet of Ondrej Synek. These guys

are now racing for the gold medal. There is a separate race or bronze,

but there is nothing in it, it could go anywhere! 500m remaining

in his final of the men's single sculls, and Alan Campbell is on the

fringes of a medal, fourth place. Alan Campbell is behind Lassi

Karonen from Sweden. These two are fighting for the bronze. Out front

and away clean, Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand, the world champion has

at his game one more time, and he is sculling away from Ondrej Synek

from the Czech Republic. He is telling a way to a crowd that

appreciating every bit of effort they are seeing! Look at the power

he is generating, he is burying deeper than he would normally, but

Hatay has moved away. Now Alan Campbell in La number three has

responded to the crowd are not far side, the extra man in the boat,

the crowd will will him to do just a little bit more. One more stroke,

Alan, to get up and they had our Lassi Karonen! The gold medal today

is going to Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand as they come to was the

last 175. Ondrej Synek is fighting back hard, Alan Campbell in lane

three, he is up there alongside Lassi Karonen, and he has got the

crowd behind him. A Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand, 125, he must know

it is a job well done. Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic, one final

challenge. For the bronze medal, from Great Britain and Northern

Ireland, Alan Campbell, it is going to be so desperate. Mahe Drysdale

is the Olympic champion from New Zealand, and the fight now goes

right to the line, it is going to the wire, and it is going to be

Alan Campbell on the line, getting the bronze medal, and that will be

a fabulous bronze, well fought for bronze by Alan Campbell from Great

Britain and Northern Ireland! But today this is the man on top of the

world, the new Olympic champion, such disappointment for years ago

in Beijing, where he took the bronze medal due to illness and

that occasion. He put it right here today at Eton Dorney. Well, Ondrej

Synek, a great disappointment. For Alan Campbell, he really had to

fight hard for that bronze medal, because Lassi Karonen, who beat him

in Munich, was ahead of him until the last 300 metres, but I really

feel that the crowd lifted him in that last 400m. One final triumph

for New Zealand, Mahe Drysdale, who has wandered this for so long.

a bad day at the office for Team GB this morning on this Friday, on the

Olympic course at Eton Dorney. Such a lovely guy, really lovely, it has

been fabulous to follow him over the years, so dominant in the

single scull into Beijing, just completely devastated to get food

poisoning. Six weeks ago, this guy was knocked off his bike. I mean,

the stories that are coming out from the Games are just fabulous,

amazing, all these different permutations of preparation, will

they or will they not get here? He is here today, and he is the

Olympic champion, Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand. It will be

interesting, they will of all raced for the gold, but it will be

interesting to hear what Alan But then he got 5th position. He

had an operation, got 5th position four years ago. Look at that, that

is what it means, these are iconic images for every person chasing a

dream. This is what it means, you put your life and soul on the line,

What a great day for Team New Zealand, two gold medals on the

water and a tremendous day for Team GB, too, two bronze and a gold, the

latest coming from this man from Coleraine, Adam Campbell. -- Alan

Campbell. He has been relentlessly positive in everything he does, and

he was talking about gold, so I'm sure there will be an element of

disappointment for him, but he should be so proud because the

battle for third could have gone either way. He knows that his his

gold medal. The two guys in front of him are better than him, better

athletes, better performers. Alan has talked about the last six or

eight years of having the dream, and that is it coming true.

Realistically, he was not going to do any better and less somebody

messed up a front of him. obvious question to ask him, how

big a factor the crowd were, the cars at 500m you said that if ever

there was a race where the crowd had to come into play to will

somebody to the line, it was this one, and he just about had enough

in him to secure the bronze medal. You know the character he is, that

crowd, he was going to go absolutely nuts. We know he has got

a fast finish sometimes, but sometimes it is poor. That crowd

was going to get his adrenalin pumping, and when it was level

coming into the last 500, you were thinking, this is going to be close,

it will be 4th, I had no doubt at all that the crowd was going to

lift him and carry him over the last 300 metres. We can see him

down on the jetty or start with our cameraman can have a look, he is

just there at the moment, absolutely spent. There is nothing

really, but earlier in the piece about his training on Christmas Day,

on his iPod before he completed today, earth he was going to listen

to Slade and the Wizard, and all those Christmas songs that seem so

out of place on a glorious sunny morning like this, but maybe that

is what he was singing when it at 500m he thought, this is it, all

the hard work was worth it for this moment. And it was, bronze medal

for Alan Campbell, he is still spark out down there. They need to

get in standing up, I am twitching to get down there, he needs to keep

moving, not lie still. They are managing to get into his feet, at

least they have got him upright. That is the efforts that was

required for Alan Campbell, he is on his feet. Keep the legs moving.

I have been with him before, two years ago. Alan Campbell will be on

the podium to receive a bronze medal very shortly, and any second

now, on top of the podium, like everybody involved in British sport

and everybody in British rowing at hope she would be, Katherine

Grainger and Anna Watkins after their stunning performance in

winning 20 minutes or so ago of the women's double sculls. And after a

silver in Sydney, we have said is so often, after a silver in Sydney,

after silver in Athens, after a silver in Beijing, there was this

huge? That can now be eradicated from the record books. Katherine

Grainger is an Olympic champion, and this, I'm sure, will be one of

the most emotional medal ceremonies whoever he or she was, has changed

their flag, attended over. I think they might have prepared that

earlier, Katherine and Anna, Olympic champions, and that is just

how they are. This is their golden moment, and Garry Herbert, you

dreamt about describing this, in I have had a great pleasure of

following Katharine's career, and from Sydney all the way through

today, and we never lost faith in what was an incredible, incredible

performer, and Anna Watkins, who backed her up so, so well. I had a

moment with cat and a couple of days ago, and it was his special

moment. -- Katherine. She said, just one more race, she has done it

today, and she is the darling of the nation, but we have to applaud

Poland here. They rowed themselves into the ground here. Coming to the

medal pontoon, Julia McAllister -- Julia Michalska in a wheelchair,

that is how much she had driven herself to the line, and this is

what it means. Whether you get gold, silver or bronze, it is these

moments which we live with you forever. Sir Craig Reedie will be

handing out the medals, and this is Mike Williams, the treasurer of the

International rowing Federation. was going to be expected. Australia,

though, the closest rival. Kim Crow, what a regatta. She is through to

the final of the women's single Scholes. Here she is picking up

get geared up for her final of the women's single Scholes tomorrow.

What a great athlete she is. A Anna Watkins and Katherine

Grainger! A very personal moment on a very public stage. Both of you,

you have made the nation prowled, you really have. -- nation prowled.

Olly Watkins watching that with such pride and huge sacrifices.

Katherine Grainger, a moment there. She's holding it together. You are

doing a good job there, Katherine, you are holding it together,

because up here we are struggling. A wonderful moment. Katherine

Grainger, the Olympic champion. It sounds pretty good. I'm so proud of

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 59 seconds

her. You are right about holding it you have brought the Olympic crowd

penny for her thoughts right now. The motions that a all rising up.

At some point she is going to absolutely lose it. She was billed

all the way through this last year as Britain's best chance of a gold

medal. She has come through, she has come through with it and it's

been fantastic. There they are, the new Olympic champions in the

women's double sculls. They were undefeated in this combination

since 2010. All the medals that have come before that are

irrelevant. It comes down to one race, one moment in time, and this

is yours. Katherine Grainger, I think Katherine Grainger's face

is just about the happiest I've ever seen with a gold metal beneath

it. Complete and utter elation and fulfilment. Wonderful. We must just

leave the gold-medallists for a second because we have a bronze-

medallist to talk to. Alan Campbell, exhausted beyond belief but you are

a bronze-medallist. I'm very proud. I trained for 10 years. Bill has

come to me from day one from novice. He has taken me to three Olympics.

It was disappointing last time with what happened. It was hard coming

away from those Games with nothing, no medals. The two guys were

quicker than me today. I did everything I could but ultimately I

wasn't to match them today. Just... So sorry. Don't be sorry. So tired.

Listen, you have made so many people so proud. Look at these

pictures of your mum at the moment you crossed the line. Look at her.

I think Dad didn't believe it. I'm really pleased. It's another medal

I'm proud to be from there, proud to represent all parts of the

British Isles. To have three medallists from the one town is

pretty exceptional. Can I ask you one final question about the crowd?

At 500 it was nip and tuck for the bronze medal. Steve said to me, if

ever there was a moment for the crowd to come into play, this is it.

How much did they help you? Definitely, just knowing that

almost 100 % of the shelves were for me really did help. I just

thought, I've got to go now or never and hold on to this medal.

The crowd have been exceptional. I think that is going to be the true

legacy of these Games. Such a knowledgeable group, a dedicated

group of people. I have to stop you because there is a medal ceremony

down there and you have got to be in it. Have you got any energy to

stand up? I think I'll just hold on to Mahe Drysdale! Many

congratulations. Alan Campbell, medallist today. Steve, do you want

to act as... I ought to stay here and do my job, but Steve can go off.

Here is what his mum had to say about that great moment.

Absolutely no mystery about who you are supporting. Jenny and William

Campbell, proud parents of Allen. Fantastic performance from your son

today. Really well. Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. We can't

believe it. He was up against the big guns today and now he is one of

the big guns. Jenny, did you have any expectations before this race?

I did it all under wraps but I did think he had it in him. He felt he

had it in him and we have to go with that. He felt confident he was

a medal winner today. We are so delighted. It was a gutsy

performance. Because Alan Campbell is not the tallest in that field.

He is dwarfed by all the other guys. So he really has to work hard to

get there. I think you work hard to get there to date. Just how loud

were you screaming, or did you go quiet? No, I just screamed the

whole way! I think it will be shown for many today. I just willed him

on, I knew he could do it. I told the crowd that we could do this,

and I think we've done it. Brilliant for Alan, brilliant for

One of those strange moments when Alan Campbell says, sorry, for not

winning. You want to say, no, you are wrong. I don't think he said

sorry, I think he said he was sore! His legs were absolutely solid. He

put absolutely everything into that. If he just sits there, the lactate

just builds up and up and then you never get him to move. You so with

New Zealand when they were out there, he was very similar. You've

just got to try and keep moving. You just don't want to move at all

but if you can get moving, the blood starts flowing again, gets

the muscles working again. He will thank you when he's having his

third pint tonight. I don't think he will thank me at all. I gather

somewhere behind us, Katherine and Anna, Olympic gold-medallists, are

taking to the water once again. Now is not the time for thinking about

tomorrow, never mind next year, never mind four years. But is it a

realistic option for Katherine to think about going on for four more

years? Excellent question in some ways. Maybe so, maybe not. This

combination is so strong. Anna Watkins definitely wants to carry

on. She has talked of maybe having a little bit of time off herself,

may be having a child and then coming back. Marathon runners

improve after having children. There's not that many that have

done it. Caterina Karsten, she was racing and still racing. She races

for gold tomorrow. For Belarus. She is the two times Olympic champion

and she has a 14-year-old daughter. That really did scare me when

Matthew told me that this morning. The key thing from Katherine's

point of view, and these are the questions she will be asked tonight

about the future, but the thing about rowing is it's not about next

year, because there will be a world championship next year but World

Championships in the general scheme of things don't make that much of

an impact. Its four years. If you are going to commit, it's a four

year commitment. That is the key point when you have to decide, am I

going to cross that again? There is somebody standing between us that

said some words about her retirement. That stays with you for

the rest of your life. But it is about having commitment. You need

some time, you need to think about it. It is one easy decision to make

but its four years of hard graft to live with it. What you don't want

somebody singing, yes, I'm going to do it, try half-hearted, get some

poor results, get disillusioned and walk away. Its all-or-nothing, so

take your time for that decision. The great thing, as you did, is

getting out on top and not sullying the legacy. I have issues with that

in some ways. What's the top? If you don't try, you don't know where

the top... I could have carried on, I could have been racing here at

the age of 50. But you wouldn't have won. Who knows? You wouldn't,

Steve. I'm terribly sorry. It's why you do it. It it's the love for it,

every time we tell our top athletes to stop at the top, the reality is

it is about how you feel and what to get out of the sport. If you

love it so much... What great pictures visa. Leaving the stage

slightly slower than they came down the other way, but they came down

as would be a Olympic champions and they head back as an Olympic

champions, with the Union flag around Katherine Grainger's neck,

as a Olympic gold-medallist. They are rolling back with Olympic gold

medals around their neck. Again, these are all the questions that of

for the future, but at this stage, just an hour-and-a-half or so after

her moment of triumph, is Katherine Grainger the very best female row

were that you have ever seen? is fantastic. She's not going to

know what will hit her over the next few hours. OK. We had an epic

day at Eton Dorney. I know you have Epic is a wonderful way to describe

it. Just look at those pictures. Let's hope that Alan Campbell makes

it C -- safely to the medal podium. Here is what to watch and where to

watch it. You can join us over on BBC Two for action from the first