Coxed Fours, Women

Nations that were participating in the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics had won every previous Olympic medal in the women’s coxed four and every title at the World Championships. As with many of the women’s events, this left Romania as the favorite and four of their five representatives had been runners-up at the last Worlds. The United States, meanwhile, was the reigning Pan American champion, but in the opening heats it was Canada, who had taken bronze at the most edition, who won their heat, while the Americans trailed behind the Romanian and Dutch squads. In the final, Romania and Canada finished first and second by a comfortable margin, leaving the United States to battle with Australia for the final podium spot. A last minute push from the Australians left the Americans empty-handed, as the latter lost the bronze medal by only 0.29 seconds.