Graham Oberlin-Brown of New Zealand has a task. He wanted to defend the title won by his country last year in this event. Coming through the heats and semifinals Oberlin-Brown had dominated his races. What could his competition do today? In what has become usual style, Oberlin-Brown took off in the lead. Only Joris Pijs of the Netherlands seemed to be able to hold this early pace. Settling into a 31 stroke rate, Pijs had to keep his rating in the high 30s to try and hold on. But coming up on Pijs was Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh of Iran. Naghadeh is one of a new Iranian rowing squad coached by Romanian Olympic coach Nick Gioga and he was rating a high 41 strokes per minute with no sign of settling down.
Coming into the line Oberlin-Brown remained comfortably in front. A huge open-water gap then went back to Naghadeh, now rating 43, in second, with Pijs coming through for third. Naghadeh goes into rowing history as the first medal for Iran on the international scene. The overjoyed Naghadeh fell into the water after the finish.
Results: NZL, IRI, NED, GER, AUT, SLOGold: Graham Oberlin-Brown (NZL)
“The conditions were difficult. I went out hard and had the first glimpse to the side at the 1000m mark. I was surprised to be ahead. After that I just went for it. It is amazing to win gold.”
Silver: Mohsen Shadi Naghadeh (IRI)
“It was a good race. I am very happy with my result.”
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