| Jose Guillen hits grand slam in Giants' 9-2 win over Brewers Jose Guillen stood in front of his locker and grinned. "I guess I'm officially a Giant now," he said. "I finally did something when it counted." ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
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Andy Holmes, a double Olympic gold medal winner, dies aged 51 Between 1986 and 1988 Holmes and Steve Redgrave were the best two rowers in the worldAndy Holmes has gone and, right now, it feels like part of me has, too. That numbing sense of loss often happens with rowers who have shared the intensity of training and competition together. Then there is the history: we were part of the coxed four for the 1984 Olympics which delivered Britain's first rowing gold in 36 years, in Los Angeles. But most of all there is the sense that a rowing legend has gone at the age of 51, and it hurts.If you asked me what was really special about him, I wouldn't point to his achievements in the sport – considerable though his two Olympic gold medals were. Rather, I would remember his incredible mental and physical toughness which set him a part from any of his contemporaries – either before or since. I've been involved with the sport for almost 40 years and I've yet to meet a tougher man.Andy was ruthless with his training. In the run-up to 1984 his regime frequently included two rows – morning and evening – sandwiched between a day's work as a hod-carrier. He figured that he would get fitter and stronger quicker if he spent a day running up ladders with loads of bricks carried in an outsized hod (he got paid more that way, too). From 1986 (when he started pairing with Steven Redgrave), he would often cycle the 30 or so miles from Guildford to Marlow before and after the gruelling sessions on the Thames.That level of intensity gave him the belief that he was at least as good as Steve. So he would dare Steve to pull his hardest in the boat and then would more than match it – no matter what. That dynamic tension did not keep them the best of mates, but it created one of the fastest pairs combinations the world has ever seen.Between 1986 and 1988 Holmes and Redgrave became the world's two greatest rowers – by beating everyone else who thought they might have a claim to that title. Thus, in 1986, they headed the top East German and Italian rowers to win the world coxed pairs title.Holmes's toughness pushed them towards trying to win gold in the coxed and coxless pairs titles first at the 1987 world championships and then at the Seoul Olympics – an impossible feat really. They came back from those events with the coxless pairs' golds – winning the coxed events proved just beyond them and they took silver and bronze respectively.In a way, that meant that Andy's second Olympic gold was tinged with disappointment and he never really received the recognition he deserved. When he and Steve split after 1988, he left the sport.But his toughness and intensity had left an indelible legacy, not just with Steve but also to a new generation, who saw it was possible for a Briton to take on the world and win. The British rowers competing at the world championships in New Zealand next week know what debt they owe to Andy Holmes.RowingMartin Crossguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |