TOKYO, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The rowing regatta at the Tokyo Olympic Games concluded on Friday and China's journey here has been highlighted by breakthroughs and history-making.
The Chinese rowers pocketed one gold and two bronzes, the first time Team China managed to take three rowing medals in a single Olympics.
And the man behind this success is Steve Redgrave.
In 2018, Redgrave, a renowned British rower who had won five gold medals across five Olympics, was appointed as lead coach and technical director for Chinese rowing.
Tasked with leading the Chinese rowing team to win a gold medal at the Tokyo and Paris Games, the 59-year-old was more than happy for this Tokyo run.
"I think as a team China has performed extremely well," the most decorated male rower commented.
At the 2019 world championship, China won three golds and one silver, which made Redgrave see the potential of the Chinese team to vie for the gold medal in Tokyo.
That potential was realized in women's quadruple sculls, as China enjoyed a safe lead to grab its second-ever Olympic gold medal after 2008.
"The gold medal, with a world-record time, you can't fault that. Winning by over five seconds, that is unbelievable in Olympic racing. China should be so proud of that," the British rowing legend noted.
Equally inspiring was the bronze in the women's eight, China's first in the event since 1988, which Redgrave hailed "as big as the gold medal."
"China always wants an eight to do well and to medal," he explained. "So that [bronze] will bring more people into the sport. That boosts their confidence, so our team should go on strength to strength."
However, according to Redgrave, the medal was a surprise made possible by hard work.
"When they came together four months ago, they always showed good pace and good middle pace. What they were lacking was to change the pace in the closing stages, and that's what we've been working on for the last two months after the qualifying event.
"It hasn't been working very well until today," he said.
The bronze medal in the men's double sculls was the first men's Olympic rowing medal for China and Asia. Watching from aside this time, these historic moments felt different for the five-time Olympic gold medalist.
"I'm excited for the team. I'm excited for the athletes. I've been with them for three years, so it's very different; it's a very different feeling," Redgrave told reporters.
Redgrave's contract with the Chinese Rowing Association is through to Paris Olympics. "I have to assess if my bosses still want me, if I've got a future, and we'll have to see from there."
"2024 (Olympics) is less than three years away."
Redgrave is not only responsible for the training and strategic development of the Chinese national rowing team but also assists the Chinese Rowing Association in developing a system that includes research and youth training.
Talking about the future of Chinese rowing, Redgrave said: "China has the athletes, has the resources, has some of the know-how to be the strongest rowing nation in the world. I was brought in to get them there. I think we're seventh (sixth in fact) on the medals table [in Tokyo], so we've still got a long way to go." Enditem
