Gold to Australia in men’s coxed pair event at world rowing championships

Australian rowers Dominic Grimm, Chris Morgan and cox David Webster win gold in the men's cox pair at the world rowing championships. Photo courtesy of Rowing Australia.

09 Nov 2010

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athlete Dominic Grimm with ex-AIS rower Chris Morgan and cox David Webster have combined to win gold in the men’s coxed pair, cruising to Australia’s first victory on the final day of the world rowing championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.

Australia won gold, finishing a second ahead of Italy. The Italian pair led through 500-metre mark ahead of Australia in second place. But Australia made the most of the light conditions, surging to the lead midway through the race and maintaining that advantage on their way to victory.

‘We put together a clean race and full credit to Chris who went from sculling to sweep,’ Webster said.

‘I’ve gone from nothing to a world champion.’

Australia finished in 4th place on the overall medal tally with one gold, four silver and three bronze medals.

The Australian crew of Todd Skipworth, Blair Tunevitsch, Sam Beltz and Anthony Edwards, finished strongly to claim silver in the lightweight men’s four event, finishing just 0.07 seconds behind the eventual winner Great Britain.

It was Australia’s first medal in this event since winning silver at Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

AIS athletes Kim Crow and Kerry Hore clinched silver in the women’s double scull, finishing more than five seconds behind Great Britain, but four seconds ahead of Poland.

In other strong results, the Australian lightweight men’s eight also took silver, finishing 1.66 seconds behind the Germany.

AIS athlete Sarah Cook teamed up with Kate Hornsey (TIS), Pauline Frasca and Sarah Heard (VIS) to claim silver in the women’s four event in the time of 7:23.99, almost 3 seconds behind the Netherlands. The United States finished in third place.

The Australian crew mostly made up of AIS athletes combined to win bronze in the men’s eight — the first time Australia has achieved a world championship medal in this event since 1997.