Defending champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning extended their five-year unbeaten run in the women’s pair in the Olympic rowing regatta on Thursday, beating the United States’ crew by a good length to reach the final.
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The Brits’ time of 7:18.29 was enough to retain their title despite the best efforts of second-placed New Zealand (7:18:53) and bronze medallists Denmark (7:20.71).
Denmark were forced to settle for the bronze in the end, while U.S. finished four seconds further back in fourth.
It was Great Britain’s 17th medal of the Games and moved them up to fourth in the table, ahead of Australia.
Stanning, who was born in Yeovil, and former Millfield School pupil Glover surged into the lead straight from the start of the race and never looked troubled as they took a win just as convincing as their gold medal row at London 2012.
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“The pressure was enormous”, Glover told the BBC.
