The Amateurs by David Halberstam

Author:David Halberstam
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Olympic Games, Rowers - United States, Reference, Sports Psychology, Rowing, Sports & Recreation, Sports, United States, Olympics, Rowers, Biography & Autobiography, Essays, General, Athletes, Water Sports, Biography
ISBN: 0449910032
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 1985-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWELVE

There were no surprises in the heats. Tiff Wood, rowing easily and comfortably, posted the best time, 7:04.1. It was important for him to row the best time; anything less was a sign of vulnerability. Biglow's time was the second best, 7:06.43, and Bouscaren's the third, 7:08.02. Brad Lewis won his heat, and Jim Dietz had come in second in his, 7 seconds behind Biglow. He would have to go to the reps. That did not bother him too much. He had rowed relatively easily and indeed he would survive the reps.

When Tiff Wood saw the draw for the semifinals, he became enraged. The draw was pure chance, but almost all the power was in one heat—he, Biglow, Bouscaren, and Dietz, of whom only three would survive. That meant that no one would be able to coast. Three top contenders in a semi was easy; they could set their pace and stay leisurely ahead of the fourth man. Now that luxury was gone. To make matters worse, the top oarsmen in the other semi would be able to conserve their energy and come out of their heat more rested. (Wood was right; the fourth man in his heat was four seconds under the winning time of the other heat.) Like Wood, Jim Dietz knew exactly what the draw for the semifinals meant: To make the finals, he would have to go all out in the semi. His plan to sneak in and row one great surprise race was dead.

By contrast, Brad Lewis's confidence grew even stronger. He had sat there and listened while the officials had called off the names of the oarsmen in the first semifinal: Bouscaren, Biglow, Dietz, Wood. He had waited for his name, and when they had not read it, he had heaved a sigh of relief. The other four were going to kill each other in their semi, while he was going to be so able to coast in his that he did not even intend to win it.

The semifinal heat was very tight and very well rowed. Wood won, Biglow was a close second and Bouscaren and Dietz were in a virtual dead heat for third. Dietz had surprised everyone. Usually he was almost as fast off the mark as an eight, but this time he had conserved his energy, held back and unleashed a furious closing drive. He had pushed Bouscaren so hard that Wood, who was keying on Bouscaren, had been forced to give a hard ten with about thirty strokes to go. That had made Wood the winner. Dietz was sure he had beaten Bouscaren. His friends were sure of it. Most of the other rowers thought he had won. Yet it was called a dead heat. Dietz was furious. He was sure that Harry Parker, whom he considered an old nemesis, was behind it. He demanded to see the videotape, but the videotape, because the camera was at too low an angle, showed nothing conclusive. Another rower had blocked out the finish between the two boats, and both were allowed to qualify.

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