Personal reflections from David and Mary Williams

GOLD

That's what this year's Olympics at Athens meant for two very proud parents. We had been through so much with Steve, especially over the last five seasons: he himself has experienced both dark lows and ecstatic highs! We felt that Athens 2004 was a well deserved victory, a marvellous achievement and just reward for years of devoted and diligent training, perseverance and character building.

The rowing finals were on the middle weekend of the Olympics, and GB's medal tally was at rather a low ebb. The coxless four final was on the Saturday - and this day became known as "Golden Saturday" when Brits won nine medals including four golds (and a silver won earlier in the week was upgraded, making five golds for the day!). One of those golds was in the coxless IV, emulating the win four years earlier in Sydney. This pushed GB up to sixth place in the medal table that day. People then had felt the winning margin was uncomfortably small — this time it was even closer with a photo finish of just 8 one-hundredths of a second! In chocoholic terms ‘a Crunchie bar' between GB and Canada! If it was tense watching on TV, it was certainly even more so in the spectator stands around the rowing course.

We had the extra stress of seeing "1 GBR Great Britain" flashing momentarily onto the screens, only to be replaced by "FOTO" for an agonisingly long period. When "1 GBR Great Britain" and "2 CAN Canada" eventually came up on the screens, the Brits all round the course (and there were hundreds of us, with so many Union Jacks) erupted in noisy celebration. The cheering was fantastic, and went on for ages. Steve, and the others, were able to exult in a wonderful victory won over very tough opposition. They went over to the public stands to accept their acclaim, and then came back to our side for the press pontoon, and then to the medal pontoon where we were able to meet up and share his very evident joy.

Steve had set his heart on Olympic gold for so long. Having been in the GB rowing squad for 1998 and 1999, he was well placed for inclusion in the 2000 Olympic squad, but was only selected as "spare man" when the team was announced. Nevertheless he won gold in the coxed 4 in the world championships that year. He rowed with Toby Garbett, Ric Dunn and Ed Coode to become World Cup holders and World Champions in 2001. Team camaraderie had developed so much that season. They each had a point to prove. Steve and Toby were the spare men for Sydney, Ric was asked to keep himself available as spare stroke for the eight, and Ed had narrowly missed a medal in the pair. Then Ed sustained a training injury during Winter 2001/2, so Josh West came into the coxless 4's for 2002 and they won silver, behind Germany, their principal rivals all season. The same four competed in 2003, beating Germany but came silver behind Canada. When the selection was made for the new coxless 4 early in 2004, Stephen and Josh remained in the four, and Ric and Toby were displaced for Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to become the boat with "Britain's best hope for gold." We felt deeply, as we knew Steve did, when two good friends — not mere rowing companions — were moved out after three remarkably successful years to another boat (the pair). This new four were to be further broken up when after the April trials Alex Partridge was brought in for Josh. Now there were two ex- Montonians in the premier men's boat! Ed, at this time had lost even a place in the eight. Steve was thus the one remaining member of the re-grouped four after the Sydney Olympics.

So the 2004 season started — and what a season of change, uncertainty, heartache, hope, and eventual victory. The new four at least trained together even if they rarely rowed together competitively. The first World Cup, at Poznan, saw James out with a cracked rib — so Ed came back in — and the four won gold! Everyone, including us, thought we were at last en route to Olympic success. This win also meant Ed regained a place in the eight. The next World Cup was going well until James had a bug on finals day and, because Ed was settling into the eight, someone else was brought in at barely an hour's notice: Canada by this time had come to Europe and were winning almost everything. They won the coxless IV's and GB came 5th. The third World Cup saw another upset; we were rowing well, and in the final were keeping up with Canada (who came in ahead of us), but neither GB nor Canada had noticed a fast USA crew change gear at 1000 metres and speed past them both for the finishing line! Alex, sadly, was exhausted and feeling as if he was rowing on only one lung. Then on Henley Saturday came the devastating news that he had a punctured lung; he mustn't train and certainly not fly. Ed re-entered the boat, and they won The Stewards Cup at Henley. Once again there was a newly formed four, and they had just seven weeks left before the Olympics! The annual altitude camp at Silvretta and the pre-olympic camp at Auigbellete assumed a strategic role of vital importance. Thus this untested four came to the Olympics.

We flew out of Heathrow with other parents and supporters under the auspices of BIRO, the British International Rowing Organisation. They did us proud, with very efficient organisation and an excellent hotel on the coast at Port Raffina, near the ancient site of Marathon and just 30 minutes coach ride to Schinias, the specially prepared rowing course for last year's Junior Championships and this year's Olympics. There were mutterings around that the Olympic committee had told Greece on no account to put the rowing course anywhere near there because of the winds. (We'd heard that even the fishermen don't bother going out in August because it's too rough!) Last year's junior championships had been marred by rough conditions, several boats sinking, and many races cut to just 1000 metres. Also FISA, the international rowing body, had made strong representations to the Greeks that there should be (as usual) a huge TV screen not only for the public stands but also for the FISA friends and family stands, and were prepared to cover the extra cost. This offer was rejected and so we had to rely on only the commentary for the first 1500 metres of each race.

Taken as a whole, Greece had prepared well for this historic Olympics, although there had been quite a rush in the final months. Rail and road systems had been improved, and we benefited from the bus service along the newly completed dual-carriageway into Athens that was also part of the marathon course. The new roads to the new airport had only just been finished — so our coach driver lost his way taking our party back to the airport! BIRO had also arranged a dedicated, air-conditioned coach to transport us to and from the hotel each day leaving around 7.00am. They had also gained security clearance, so instead of being deposited at the "park and ride" to await Olympic transport to the rowing course, the coach was able to take us to the official drop-off point. (Except on the first morning, when it tried to drop us off at the athletes' entrance!). We were eventually deposited at the correct gate, got through the first of the ticket check points, then past the police security check point, through the second of the ticket check points and walked around the head of the lake to our stands. We tried to buy the day's programme, but were told that none were available: we could get them tomorrow! Anyway, we knew roughly the timetable for the day and, most importantly for us, the time of the three heats for the coxless 4's.

The rowing was scheduled over eight days from the first Saturday (August 14th) to the middle Sunday (22nd), with a spare day in case there were any postponements due to bad weather. Each day had an early start, at 8.30 am when, it was hoped, conditions were neither too hot nor too breezy. There was the option to start even as early as 7 am, if it proved to be too windy! The race commentary was provided in the two official languages, English and French, together with that of the host country, Greek. It may have been our imagination, but it seemed most of the commentary was in English. One recurrent memory was at the half-way point in each race the enthusiastic English commentator would summarise the positions, and then say something like: "And now for the update from the 1000 metre mark — in Greek"(!)

(As an aside, China also, perhaps surprisingly, gained a place in the women's final. Through "a friend of a friend" who was one of the official translators, we heard that the interpreter for Chinese was booked to attend the final in case she was needed. She was seeking some explanation of rowing terms, to help her get to grips with the sport. After all, how do you translate "sweep" and "stroke"? Why did we incorporate the French term "repechage" (or "rep" for short!) into rowing vocabulary — and what does it mean? We looked in our Greek pocket dictionary to see how they translated a few words. For the key word "row" they had three possible translations! One: "as in a theatre," second "as a boat" and third, "as in a quarrel"(!) )

The first morning was exceedingly hot, and there was no shade for the spectators. Fortunately for family and friends, the sun was behind us, and the Brits usually commandeered the top row of the stands, both to display our flags but also to catch what little breeze there was. That morning saw many heats take place, including, of specific interest to Team GB, those of Ian Lawson, Cath and Katherine, Sarah and Elise, and Matt and Matthew. At 11.30 the Coxless IV heats commence. Canada have a relatively easy win in the first heat; GB have a well-fought race with Italy and win the second heat, actually in the fastest time (which puts us in an "easier" semi-final). What a relief, the new four had won its first international race of the season! (And two parents' anxieties were unfounded as the 4 didn't catch a crab, capsize or get disqualified for any reason!) Australia beat New Zealand and Germany to take the 3rd heat.

Sunday saw the wind getting up, so Monday's programme was cancelled, and the Tuesday programme re-scheduled, provisionally, for Tuesday afternoon, when it was hoped the winds would have died down. We could see how rough the sea was from our hotel. There were even questions posed as to what happens if all the races are delayed, even beyond the following Tuesday when the GB Supporters group were scheduled to fly home!

Wednesday dawned fine and calm. Conditions were excellent, and with a slight tail wind. Both semi-finals had times of 30 seconds faster than the heats! Canada won the first very tough semi. It was assumed the Brits would have an easier time, but New Zealand chased very hard indeed, and so pushed GB into a slightly faster time than Canada. This gave us the favoured lane in the final, followed by Canada, Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Poland. Germany, the "scourge" of the last three years were not even in the final this time, and to our personal delight Australia had reached the finals, thereby ensuring that our friends and family in the Southern Hemisphere would receive television coverage! The four, having now won their second race together, were feeling more assured now and, after the race, Steve came over to see us at the back of the stands. As far as the temperatures were concerned, the day‘s rowing started about 28 degrees Celsius, the fours raced at about 35, and when we got back to the hotel the temperature reading in the square was 43!

Throughout the week, we also took a keen interest in Ric and Toby's fortunes in the coxless pair. In each of their races they rowed consistently through the field but unfortunately did not make the "A" final. They were placed in a very tough semi-final, and despite their best endeavours came a close fourth by only 0.57sec. This disappointment must have been even harder to bear, since their time for being fourth was faster than the winner of the second semi-final, and indeed their B final winning time was the fastest time of any coxless pair throughout the racing. Who knows what could have happened if, as in athletics, the "fastest losers" could have been included? Ric and Toby rowed well in the B final to come first, and hence seventh overall. Even the knowledge of being seventh in the world is no real consolation. We did feel for them, as we did for Josh in the eight.

This year there were only nine boats qualified and entered for the men's eight, often regarded as the premier event of any championships. The USA had filled their boat with their best men, including those four that had managed a sprint finish to come first at Lucerne, and they dutifully won. Our crew did the best they could, given the difficulties of so many crew changes over the summer, and came ninth in the world for 2004.

At Sydney the GB women's boats had gained two medals. This time it was three medals, two bronze and a silver (only the second Olympic silver in British women's rowing history) with all the "heavyweight" women taking home a medal.. Their finals were exciting events, when steady starts left them trailing other boats, but they powered through most of the field towards some very tight finishes.

And so finals day arrived — Saturday 21st August 2004. The decision has been made by the group to leave extra early to gain the best possible vantage point in the stands! So up at 4.45am. Light breakfast (too nervous to eat much). Our coach leaves the hotel at 6.15am. Steve's sister Rachel (also an ex- Monktonian) has made a flying 24 hour visit to Athens to support her brother. Arrive at Schinias before 7am, but the Canadians must have slept there the night, because they have bagged the premier spot! Already it is hot. We Brits spread out along the top row with our Union Jacks both denoting who we are and providing us with much needed shade. Cath and Katherine row through the field and win silver in an exciting finish, and Sarah and Elise also put on a brilliant race to snatch bronze. Enjoyed the excitement of the girls' races, but suddenly it is "our" turn. Could our boys complete a colourful trio of medals with a gold? So very, very nervous. The race appears on the score board and the commentary tells us they have started. GB are slightly ahead of Canada. (Impossible to stay still — pace up and down — alternating with sitting head in hands — who would be a rower's MUM?!?) At 1000 GB still marginally in lead, but by 1500 Canada have inched into the lead. (Unbearable — have we lost it?) The 4 are in our view now, but can't watch more than 2 seconds at a time. GB and Canada, bow ball to bow ball contesting the lead. The finishing bubbles line draws closer and closer. Both crews seem to cross together. The screen momentarily posts GB as winners and then promptly removes it to be replaced by FOTO!! Agonising moments pass (we sit head in hands with thousands of possibilities flying through the mind) then amazingly the GB supporters are cheering and screaming all around us and we stand to take in the amazing fact that GB have won an incredible Olympic final and our son, Steve Williams, is an Olympic Gold medallist. Incredible.

The next 30 minutes are a blur, but include being interviewed by BBC and Clare Balding; running round to the front of our stand and being allowed through to the flag-posts in front of the VIP Stand. The boys emerge onto the podium and Steve runs up to hug us all. He is exhausted and very damp, but his smile lights up his whole face. So, so delighted for Steve and Matthew, James and Ed. Mission fulfilled in different ways for all four of them. The medal ceremony follows — such a proud moment for us all. The National Anthem is sung lustily by nearly all the four! More hugs, then we return to our seats amid hugs and congratulations from seemingly all around us. The boys return to the boating area for more photos with Mrs. Blair and a very delighted Jurgen. Then Steve comes up to our stand and gives David a hug and his medal and Mary a hug and the laurel wreath and flowers (now we just have to negotiate Australian Quarantine!) Steve speaks on his mobile to his big sister in Australia, and receives unnumbered texts, phone calls and personal congratulations and hugs. That set the pattern for the rest of the day, indeed the next several days! Eventually we return to our hotel before getting a taxi to the Team hotel for an afternoon, evening and night of celebrations. For us as parents a truly thrilling day; and a real answer to prayers seeing Steve so relaxed, rewarded and reinvigorated.

The rowing team had done GB proud with four medals (the best result since 1928), and with four of the sixteen gold medalists. Jurgen Grobler, the men's rowing coach had obtained gold at every Olympics since 1972, James Cracknell had got his second gold, (one on each "side" - at Sydney rowing stroke, and at Athens rowing bow). Matthew Pinsent had got his fourth gold medal, having never lost an Olympic race.

Having never been in Greece before, and maybe not visiting there again, we did spend time exploring the sights.

And what of the future? We have not a clue. When the time is right,Steve will make up his mind what he would like the next few years to hold for him. Whatever he decides will be right for him - and of course as parents we will support him fully.

And Monkton Combe - where it all began. Well, what a historic line of succession.

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