Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) - Gold for NZL

by Rowing-World on 26 Aug 2006 Marcel Hacker (GER) laid down the gauntlet with a typical fast start and 'catch me if you can' taunt to the rest of the field.

Mahe Drysdale (NZL) in Lane 4 got away to a slow start and at the 500 was trailing in 4th place. Heading for the 1000 metre mark, Hacker moved out to a one length lead, with Drysdale in third. Rowing in Lane 2, the opposition for Hacker was all to his left - making it easier to monitor.

The field started to run down Hacker after the 1250 metre mark. GBR's Alan Campbell had also started fast, but by this stage had slid back to sixth place.

At the 1500 metre mark Drysdale started moving in on Ondrej Synek in second place.

At the 1750 metre mark the race looked to belong to Hacker, however Drysdale continued his relentless pursuit passing Synek and closing on Hacker.

Drysdale snatched the narrowest of leads right on the line and in the final stroke. Hacker was caught still going for his final stroke and just lacked the surge required to hold Drysdale at that critical part of the race.

Drysdale took the race in 6min 35.40 a new world record.

Although he appeared to be recovering and was upright in the boat at the finish, Marcel Hacker collapsed unconscious just before the medal ceremony and was taken to hospital in an ambulaance. The Silver medal was accepted by his coach.

From FISA:

These athletes know each other well, but during race time it’s all business with a mental game going on that is anyone’s guess. Hacker collapses after his semi-final. Tufte carries out coughing fits. Drysdale looks like he’s putting in no effort. Synek pulls out a stunner in the semi-final.

At the end of this race these athletes would push each other for a new World Best Time. Today at the start Germany’s Marcel Hacker took off in the style of his semi-final, rating high and grabbing the lead. Great Britain’s Alan Campbell also opened with his trademark fast start with Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand and Norway’s Olaf Tufte back in the field.

Hacker continued to keep his rating high settling into a 35 stroke rate with Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, rowing a very clean, tidy race, representing the nearest threat. Coming through the half-way point Hacker remained in the lead with a good two second margin over Synek.

Could the German maintain this? Coming into the final 500 metres stroke rates began to rise. The reigning World Champion, Drysdale was attacking. Tufte followed suit. Hacker tried to hold on. The heat was on the German. Two boats were level. Three final strokes. Hacker looked across at Drysdale. Drysdale remained in his zone. Drysdale crossed the line. He looked across both ways then his fists punched the air.

Drysdale had stolen the gold from Hacker and stolen the German’s World Best time. Drysdale now owns the time of 6:36.33 (Hacker’s previous record, 6:36.40, set in 2002). Hacker wins silver and Synek holds off Tufte to take bronze.

At the medals ceremony, Drysdale was saluted with a New Zealand haka while Hacker’s coach, Andreas Maul accepted the silver, Hacker having earlier collapsed.

Synek: 'Mahe and Marcel did a very good race, but I’m happy anyway because up until now it was a bad season for me.'

See www.rowinginfo.info for the Finals in pictures

Result  World Cup World Rowing Championships 2006, Eton - Race 196: M1x  Final A
Rank	Boat	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	Finish	Lane
1	NZL	1:37.71  (4)	3:18.28  (3)	4:58.15  (2)	6:35.40	4
Mahe DRYSDALE
2	GER	1:35.85  (1)	3:15.36  (1)	4:56.23  (1)	6:35.49	2
Marcel HACKER
3	CZE	1:37.08  (3)	3:17.56  (2)	4:58.37  (3)	6:37.51	3
Ondrej SYNEK
4	NOR	1:38.34  (6)	3:19.66  (5)	5:00.36  (4)	6:39.13	5
Olaf TUFTE
5	BEL	1:38.08  (5)	3:19.01  (4)	5:02.26  (5)	6:44.30	1
Tim MAEYENS
6	GBR	1:36.63  (2)	3:20.09  (6)	5:04.98  (6)	6:49.08	6
Alan CAMPBELL
Key to terms: DNA=Data Not Available DNF=Did Not Finish DNS=Did Not Start DSQ=Disqualified EXC=Excluded BUW=Boat Under Weight