Coxed Fours (Race #2), Men

This was the second final for the coxed fours in 1900, and was held because of the controversy that occurred in the original coxed fours final, which is considered the most controversial Olympic rowing event ever. In the original event, the final was to be contested by the three heat winners, and the runner-up in heat three (which had four entrants). However, the losers in heats two and three had rowed faster times than the winners of heat one, and the officials wanted to conduct another qualifying heat, but they were unable to contact all the teams.

The decision was made to allow the heat winners and the three fastest losing boats to compete in the final, giving a six-boat final. But the course was originally only designed for four boats, so the heat winners protested and refused to compete. The first final went off with the runner-up boat from heat two, and also the second- and third-place finishers from heat three. But this was satisfactory to no one and it was elected to conduct another final. This event was to be among the winners of the original three heats, plus Cercle de L’Aviron Roubaix, which had won the first final. But Roubaix declined, feeling they had already won the original competition. The second final went off with three boats, and the race won comfortably by Hamburg’s Germania Ruder Club. Both finals are usually considered as valid Olympic events and the results listed in most medal standings for the 1900 Olympics.