Kiwis win gold in men's eights. Team USA 4th.

New Zealand men's crew standing on the podium after winning the gold in the men's eights final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 

The New Zealand men ended a long drought for men’s eight rowing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Friday. For the first time since the 72’ games in Munich, the kiwis came out on top in a thrilling finish for gold. Germany narrowly took the silver from Great Britain, who finished 13 hundredths behind, taking the bronze. The United States men finished a second back in fourth. 

The US men found their way into the final despite having to compete in the repechage. In their fight against Germany during the heat, they hoped that they could come through it with the same energy that could produce them an upset of the world champions at the Olympics. 

The Germans got out front with Australian and Great Britain and the US men in fifth. At the 500 mark, the world champions and the defending Olympic champions came to the line nearly even. The United States moved into fourth with the Netherlands behind them. New Zealand began to threaten both Team GB and Germany by coming to the halfway line first. 

They jumped well ahead of Germany and Great Britain and the US was close in contention for the bronze. When they crossed 1500 meters, it was a three-way for silver and bronze with the Americans, Germans, and British. New Zealand continued to stay well ahead of the three that trailed and came over the line in first. 

The United States fell back just enough to take them out, but when it came to silver and bronze, the German eight somehow edged the defending champs to take away the silver and leave them with the bronze medal.