Coxless Fours, Men

Great Britain had long been the international leader in the coxless fours, and its crew for the event in Amsterdam — Richard Beesly, Edward Bevan, John Lander, and Michael Warriner — were considered strong favorites. The only other nation that came anywhere close to matching Britain’s prowess in the discipline, Canada, did not enter a team. In the opening round, however, the Britons had the second-slowest time (although they still won their heat), as they conserved their strength against a weak French crew. Meanwhile, the Americans — Ernest Bayer, George Healis, Charles Karle, and Bill Miller — were at least four seconds faster than anyone else.

In the quarterfinals, the Britons were barely able to stave off the Germans, while the Americans essentially had a walkover when France failed to show up for their race. In the semifinals, however, it was Great Britain that got to rest, while the Americans fought off the Italians who, by virtue of having no one left to compete against, earned a bronze medal. In the final, the United States put forth a strong effort, but was unable to match the advantage of Great Britain’s strength reserve. The British crew defended their crown in the last stretch of the course, while the Americans settled for silver. The Italians, who had been 1927 European Champions with a different crew, would go on to defend that crown in 1929 and 1930 with their Olympic quartet.