U.S. women turn history into gold

Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune

Caryn Davies, left, and Caroline Lind celebrated the American win in the women’s eight.

Last update: August 17, 2008 - 9:21 PM

BEIJING - Not since 1984, the Los Angeles Games boycotted by much of Eastern Europe, had the United States won Olympic gold in the women's eight rowing competition.

Sunday, inspired by that 1984 crew, Team USA was once again golden.

Winners of the past two World Championships, the Americans rowed 2,000 meters in 6 minutes, 5.34 seconds at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Romania was trying for a fourth consecutive Olympic win in the event, having beaten the U.S. by nearly two seconds at the 2004 Athens Games.

The Netherlands used a furious final 500 meters Sunday to finish 1.88 seconds behind the U.S. and edge Romania for silver.

Team USA got out well and, perhaps 150 meters into the race, seized the lead that it would not lose.

Once across the finish line, "it's amazing," said Lindsay Shoop. "The first thing you want to do is jump out of the boat and jump out of your skin, but you don't have enough energy left to do it."

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