Olympics: German eight hold off Britain for rowing gold

London, Aug 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) German rowers held off a spirited challenge from Britain to take the Olympic gold in a thrilling men's eight final Wednesday.

Germany, unbeaten since 2008, went out fast but were overtaken by the British team half way, only to step up a gear in the last 500 metres and cross the line first in five minutes, 48.75 seconds.

"I can't believe that," said German oarsman Filip Adamski. "Four years we wait and now it's happened, I can't imagine what this means."

Adamski said his team had to react to a strong headwind that hampered progress.

"Very, very tough - the wind - the whole season we have had tailwinds and now the opposite," the Polish-born athlete said.

"It was a new situation for us. We have a tactic, a strategy, every time the same and now we had to change that. We had to react to this situation."

Britain, the silver medallists in Beijing, were beaten to the silver after a late charge from defending champions Canada, who were over a second back.

The British were 1.2 seconds further adrift, the bronze coming as a crushing blow to some of the crew.

"We came here to win. I never thought I would say that I wouldn't be happy with an Olympic medal, but I'm not," said James Foad.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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