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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand defended his title in the men's single sculls in the rowing regatta of the 2016 Olympics Games here on Saturday.
Drysdale and Croatia's Damir Martin both finished the race in 6 minutes and 41.34 seconds. According to the photo finish, Drysdale had a slight advantage to become the Olympic champion. Ondrej Synek from the Czech Republic took bronze in 6:44.10.
Drysdale won his third medal in this event and second successive gold. He then joined Soviet Union's Vyatcheslav Ivanov, Finland's Pertti Karpinnen, Germany's Thomas Lange, Norway's Olaf Tufte as one of the scullers who have become an Olympic champion in the men's single sculls more than once.
Drysdale said in the post-match press conference: "With 400 (meters) to go I was feeling quite comfortable and sitting out in front. I realized Damir was a big threat in closing the gap. I've obviously had a lot of practice and lost to Ondrej in the last few years with those finishes."
Drysdale was not sure if he will retire.
"I'm 37 now and I'll be 41 in Tokyo. I'll make that decision in the next three to four months. I'm not writing anything off. I'm probably 50/50 at the moment," he said.
Martin became the fifth Croat rower to win multiple medals in rowing. He claimed silver in men's quadruple sculls in 2012.
"It's one of the perfect ones, where I did 100 per cent, even more. The last 100 meters was incredible, the shouts from the spectators were crazy," said Martin.
The bronze was Synek's third successive medal in this event after silver in 2008 and 2012. He said: "What a race. Not so comfortable, today it wasn't my day, but I'm really happy with the third place, because it is the 12th medal in my career, and my competitors Mahe and Damir were much better today. But I think every medal from the Olympics is counted, so I'm really happy."
Kimberley Brennan from Australia claimed a gold medal in the women's single sculls in 7:21.54 seconds. It was Australia's second gold medal in women's rowing. Australia also won gold in the women's pair in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
Genevra Stone from the United States and Duan Jingli from China took silver and bronze, respectively in 7:22.92 and 7:24.13.
Kimberley Brennan has expected the gold for long as she won a silver (double sculls) and bronze (single sculls) in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"I've imagined this so many times. So much work has gone into this over the past 11 years and I've had so much support from my coach and teammates," said Brennan.
The silver was Stone's first Olympic medal while Duan became the first athlete to claim an Olympic medal in the event for China and even for Asia.
"I am satisfied with my performance today," said Duan. "To clinch an Olympic medal has always been my dream. I have never imagined that I can realize my dream today."
Britain snatched men's eight gold in 5:29.63, edging reigning champion Germany into second place in 5:30.96. The Netherlands took the bronze in 5:31.59.
Thus Britain won its fourth gold medal in the men's eight, surpassing Canada for second most behind the United States (12 gold medals). This was also Britain's third rowing gold medal at the Rio Games after the other two in the men's four and women's pair, most of all NOCs. Four years ago, it won four gold medals.
Germany won two gold and one silver in rowing at the Rio Games, exactly the same as it won in London four years ago.
The Netherlands ended the rowing at the Rio Games with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
The United States repeated their feat in the London 2012 Olympic Games by winning the women's eight. Britain's silver was its first medal in the event. Romania took bronze to win its ninth medal in this event.
