Danish speed when it matters most in the lightweight men’s four

As the 2014 season is fast approaching, World Rowing takes a look back at 2013’s thrilling racing in the lightweight men’s four.

After narrowly missing out on the 2012 Olympic Games, the New Zealand lightweight men’s four came into the 2013 season with guns blazing. The addition of the accomplished Peter Taylor, Olympic bronze medallist from the lightweight men’s double, and the fresh legs and fearless enthusiasm of newcomer Jamie Hunter gave this crew the extra speed it needed to move to the next level. They won the first World Rowing Cup in Sydney with a four second margin over Great Britain. At the second World Cup in Eton Dorney, New Zealand had a spectacular sprint to the finish line, beating 2013 European Champions, the Danish ‘Guldfireren’ (golden four) by 0.04 of a second.  

Aiming to keep their winning streak alive, they went out hard in the final at the World Cup in Lucerne and managed to extend their lead over Denmark to two seconds. Wearing the yellow World Cup leaders’ bibs, New Zealand came into the World Championships ready to prove that they were undisputedly the fastest lightweight men’s four in the world.

However, their aspirations for 2013 glory were not to be. The first upset came in the semifinals when Denmark took the lead and the fastest qualifying time. On the morning of the A-final, all eyes were on the Danes and the Kiwis. Could the Kiwis find their rhythm and speed to show that their World Cup dominance could be transferred into World Championship gold? Or would the two crews be upset by Great Britain or South Africa’s Olympic Champions?

The Danish crew, stroked by double Olympic medallist Morten Joergensen, was first off the line, first to the 500 metre mark and most significantly first to the finish line, thus claiming the title of World Champions. This time they put a two second margin into the Kiwis, as if revenge for their Lucerne defeat. New Zealand found themselves in another battle too – that to hang onto silver. Great Britain’s new 2013 combination raced with their eyes on the top prize and pushed the Kiwis right to the line. The British fell just short of becoming silver medallists but took World Championship bronze for their efforts.

After the race Denmark’s most accomplished active rower, Morten Joergensen said, “In the last 20 strokes I had absolutely nothing left. I did nothing, I could see they (New Zealand) were within half a length of us, but I had nothing left. And then it was over.”

Medals never come easy in the lightweight men’s four so expect to see more close races in one of the sport’s hardest fought boat classes.