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Kim Brennan was victorious in the women’s singles sculls on Day 8 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, winning Australia’s sixth gold medal and its first in a rowing event since Beijing 2008.
Amazingly, the last Australian to win rowing gold was Kim’s husband, Scott, part of a team with David Crayshaw that won gold in the men’s double sculls at Beijing 2008.
Brennan came into the event as the clear favourite to take out the win, but as we’ve learnt so far in this games, favouritism is by no means a guarantee.
However, Brennan performed extremely well under the pressure, crossing the finish line to the cheers of Australian fans. She took the lead from the very start of the race and didn’t give it up at any point.
She finished the race as the winner by more than a second and a half over Gevvie Stone of the USA, who claimed the silver medal.
Duan Jingli of China finished in third to claim the bronze medal, while Brennan’s Antipodean rival Emma Twigg of New Zealand finished in fourth.
“The race just happened so fast. It feels like a blur,” said Brennan after the win. “I was all prepared for a tough, physical race.”
Brennan said she couldn’t believe that she was an Olympic gold medallist.
“I’m just so happy I could pull it off. My sole focus was to be tall and to breathe and to race my race. It wasn’t so much about the margin, over that last bit, I just had to make sure I stayed clean.”
Brennan has previously won both silver and bronze Olympic medals at London 2012, winning silver in the women’s double sculls with partner Brooke Pratley, and bronze in the single event.
Her gold medal brings Australia to a total of six in Rio, just two short of the nation’s total of eight won at London 2012.