London: South African rowers pipped Britain and defending champions Denmark to gold at the Olympics in a thrilling lightweight coxless fours race here Thursday.
South Africa`s James Thompson, Matthew Brittain, John Smith and Sizwe Ndlovu, world silver medalists, completed the 2-km course in six minutes, 2.84 seconds.
The British team of Peter Chambers, Rob Williams, Richard Chambers and Chris Bartley put in a strong finish but wavered at the last to claim the silver in 6:03.09.
Denmark, going for their fourth Olympic title, had to settle for bronze after leading for most of the race, in 6:03.09, its quartet of Kasper Winther, Morten Jorgensen, Jacob Barsoe and Eskild Ebbesen suffering fatigue in the final strokes.
IANS
First Published: Thursday, August 2, 2012, 18:50
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