Tomkins and Boron remain top rowers for 2008

Boron of Germany prepares to row

Both Tomkins and Boron headed the list in 2007 and their continuation through to the Beijing Olympics meant they held on to the top of this medals list for another year.

Boron picked up Olympic gold number four in Athens and decided to go for five at Beijing. A rocky lead up to the Beijing Olympics meant that Boron’s quad did not go into the event as the favoured boat. They would have to beat a talented Chinese line up as well as the three-time world champions, Great Britain. Despite a close race, Boron’s quad ended up behind China and Great Britain with bronze.

The disappointment for Boron was evident at the medals ceremony in Beijing. Five Olympic golds would have boosted her to be on par with Great Britain’s best, Sir Steve Redgrave. Boron has often said that she only races for gold.

Tomkins turned 43 just after competing in the men’s eight at the Beijing Olympic Games. The Australian eight did not medal at Beijing, but Tomkins’ past success still gave him the top position on the all time medals table. Beijing was Tomkins’ sixth Olympic Games. He has three Olympic golds already and was part of the very successful “Oarsome Foursome” that took gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

At the age of 39, Tomkins won another Olympic gold in the men’s pair. Teamed with Drew Ginn, the duo’s long, fluid strokes are often cited for their technical smoothness. Tomkins’ rowing has always been a juggle with his work, other sporting pursuits and home life. He is married with three children and enjoys surfing.

Following Tomkins on the top 10 list for the second year, Eskild Ebbesen of Denmark successfully defended his Olympic title in the lightweight men’s four at Beijing. This gives Ebbesen his third Olympic gold medal – all of them in the lightweight four.

Former pairs partner of Tomkins, Drew Ginn of Australia comes in at third on the top 10 table. Ginn remained in the pair for the Beijing Olympics and with new partner, Duncan Free, the pair defended the Olympic title.

Coming back to defend their Olympic title paid off for Romania’s Georgeta Damian-Andrunache and Viorica Susanu. The duo resurfaced in 2007 to finish third at the World Rowing Championships and then went on to take gold this year at Beijing.

Damian-Andrunache and Susanu also won gold in the women’s eight in 2004, but this year their two-boat double up secured them bronze in the eight. This was enough to earn Damian-Andrunache and Susanu positions second and third respectively on the top ten chart.

To be eligible for the 2008 Top 10 male or female rower, athletes have to actively row in 2007 at the elite international level by taking part at the World Rowing Championships or any of the Rowing World Cups. The annual top 10 are defined according to medal count with Olympic medals worth three times as much as a World Championship medal.

The complete top 10 list will follow shortly.