Bronze by a Heartbeat for the U.S. Lightweight Women’s Quad

September 03, 2011

BLED, Slovenia – In world championship rowing, there is good racing, great racing and did-you-see-that racing.

The lightweight women’s quadruple sculls final in the 2011 World Rowing Championships fell into that last category today, with the U.S. pulling off a bronze medal performance that literally came down to a last stroke battle with Italy.

After fighting its way from fourth place through the first quarter of the race, the crew of Katherine Robinson (Everett, Wash.), Lindsey Hochman (Seattle, Wash.), Nicole Dinion (Falls Church, Va.) and Hillary Saeger (Dedham, Mass.) fought off a late charge from Italy to finish in third place with a time of 6:33.91 to 6:33.92.

“It was so close,” said Saeger, who was rowing in the bow seat and had the best view of the action. “We heard the beep and I didn’t know which was which. And then I was looking at the (finish line screen) and I saw us come up on it and I thought, ‘Is it going to say third?’ And it did and I was like, ‘Third place – yes!’” she said.

“In that last 250, I said, ‘Sit up, keep it clean, go strong,’ and that was all we needed to do.”

This is Seeger’s second year in row to take a medal at the world championships in the lightweight women’s quad. Last year she was in the boat that won a silver medal on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.

The color of the medal didn’t matter much to Saeger today. “This one feels just as good. It was just amazing. The power through the race was just awesome. We didn’t give up. It was great.”

The week for the crew started a little shaky. They finished third behind Australia and Italy in their opening heat and they needed a solid performance in the repechage to get through to the final.

They made some small adjustments in their race plan and advanced out of their second chance race, finishing right behind China, which won the rep. They went to the line today determined, but fell into fourth off the start.

Great Britain led the whole way with China finishing second, but the U.S. crew kept fighting between fourth and third and changing places with Italy. They were in medal position going into the last 650 meters, when Italy came charging back.

“When we were at the 650 and Italy was walking up on us, I was thinking, ‘Get that medal,’ said Dinion. “And we just started moving and kept moving and in the last few strokes; we pulled it off,” she said.

“It was like a heart and soul kind of move,” added Robinson. “There is nothing else after this. We didn’t think about anything else. It was very much in the moment, getting the blades in and leaving nothing behind.”

Ed Moran

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