Spik and Cop fulfilled Slovenia's expectations
SYDNEY, 23 September 2000 - Slovenia's world champions Luka SPIK
and Iztok COP took the gold medal at the Sydney International Regatta
Centre on Saturday, 23 September, with Norway picking up the silver
medal and Italy bronze in the men's double sculls.
SPIK and COP started well but trailed Tibor PETO and Akos HALLER
(HUN) after the first 250 metres. The Slovenians fought back quickly
and had a 0.34 second lead over the Hungarians at the 500m mark. SPIK
and COP continued to build their lead over the next 500m and developed
a 1.65 second gap by the 1000m mark while Giovanni CALABRESE and
Nicola SARTORI (ITA) moved into second.
Olaf TUFTE and Fredrik Raaen BEKKEN (NOR) started to work through
the field at the 1250m mark and after 1500m were 2.58 seconds behind
Slovenia and Italy. The Norwegian pair finished fast, rowing past
Italy and finishing within a boat length of SPIK and COP.
