Rowing at the 1928 Summer Olympics – Men's eight

Men's eight
at the Games of the IX Olympiad
Netherlands stamp commemorating rowing at the 1928 Olympics
VenueSloten
Dates2–10 August
Competitors99 from 11 nations
Winning time6:03.2
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s)  United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Great Britain
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Canada
Rowing at the
1928 Summer Olympics
Single scullsmen
Coxless pairmen
Double scullsmen
Coxed pairmen
Coxless fourmen
Coxed fourmen
Eightmen

The men's eight event was part of the rowing programme at the 1928 Summer Olympics. It was one of seven rowing events for men and was the seventh appearance of the event, which had been on the programme for every Olympic Games since rowing was added in 1900.[1] It was held from 2 to 10 August 1928.[2] There were 11 boats (99 competitors) from 11 nations, with each nation limited to a single boat in the event.[2] The event was won by the United States, the third consecutive victory for the Americans in the event and fifth overall (winning every time the team competed). Great Britain returned to the podium after a one-Games absence in 1924 broke a three-Games medal streak, taking silver this time. Defending silver medalists Canada took bronze.

Background

This was the seventh appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The men's eight has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900.[2]

Great Britain and the United States were the dominant nations in the event, with the nations winning all six prior Olympic men's eight competitions between them. The United States held a 4–2 edge and the reigning crown (two times in a row). They were represented this time by the University of California, Berkeley (the United States) and the Thames Rowing Club (Great Britain). The Thames club had won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1927 and 1928.[2]

Denmark and Poland each made their debut in the event. Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, and the United States each made their fifth appearance, tied for most among nations to that point.

Competition format

The "eight" event featured nine-person boats, with eight rowers and a coxswain. It was a sweep rowing event, with the rowers each having one oar (and thus each rowing on one side). The course used the 2000 metres distance that became the Olympic standard in 1912.[3]

The 1928 competition expanded the repechage system introduced in 1924, giving losing rowers a second chance at advancement. However, the number of rowers in each race was once again limited to two. These changes led to the tournament having a total of seven rounds (five main rounds and two repechages).

  • The first round had 11 boats in 6 heats, with one of the boats having a bye and the other 10 competing one-on-one. The winner of each heat (6 total boats) advanced to the second round, while the loser (5 boats) went to the first repechage.
  • The first repechage had 5 boats. They were placed in 3 heats, one of which was a walkover. The winner of each advanced to the second round while the loser was eliminated. Rowers advancing via the first repechage had a continuing disadvantage to those who advanced directly from the first round, as they were not eligible for the second repechage.
  • The second round had 9 boats, with 8 competing in 4 heats and a fifth heat being a walkover. Winners (5 total) advanced to the quarterfinals, while losers went to the second repechage (if they had advanced directly from the first round) or were eliminated (if they had already been through the first repechage).
  • The second repechage had 2 boats, competing in a single heat. The winner advanced to the quarterfinals, with the loser eliminated.
  • The quarterfinals were the first round without a repechage. Six boats had advanced to the quarterfinals; they competed in 3 heats, with winners advancing to the semifinals and losers eliminated.
  • The semifinals placed the 3 boats in 2 heats, one of which was a walkover. Winners advanced to the final, with the loser receiving the bronze medal.
  • The final round consisted of a single final (for gold and silver).

Schedule
Date Time Round
Thursday, 2 August 1928Round 1
Friday, 3 August 1928First repechage
Saturday, 4 August 1928Round 2
Monday, 6 August 1928Second repechage
Tuesday, 7 August 1928Quarterfinals
Wednesday, 8 August 1928Semifinals
Friday, 10 August 1928Final

Results

Source: Official results;[4] De Wael[5]

Round 1

Winners advanced to the second round. Losers competed in the first repechage.

Round 1 heat 1
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
John Donnelly Canada6:29.8Q
2
Harry Gregersen Denmark6:35.6R

Round 1 heat 2
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Jerzy Skolimowski Poland6:37.0Q
2
Koos Schouwenaar Netherlands6:42.8R

Round 1 heat 3
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Fritz Bauer Germany6:33.0Q
2
Alphonse Margailland France6:44.8R

Round 1 heat 4
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Donald Blessing United States6:21.2Q
2
Georges Anthony Belgium6:47.0R

Round 1 heat 5
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Arthur Sulley Great Britain6:22.0Q
2
Angelo Polledri Italy6:24.6R

Round 1 heat 6
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Alberto Errecalde Argentina7:10.0Q

First repechage

Winners advanced to the second round, but were ineligible for a second repechage if they lost there. Losers were eliminated.

First repechage heat 1
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Koos Schouwenaar Netherlands6:47.4Q
2
Georges Anthony Belgium6:47.8

First repechage heat 2
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Angelo Polledri Italy6:37.8Q
2
Alphonse Margailland France6:50.8

First repechage heat 3
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Harry Gregersen Denmark6:53.2Q

Round 2

Winners advanced to the third round. Losers competed in the second repechage, if they had advanced by winning in the first round, or were eliminated if they had advanced through the first repechage.

Round 2 heat 1
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Donald Blessing United States6:35.0Q
2
Harry Gregersen Denmark6:48.4

Round 2 heat 2
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Fritz Bauer Germany6:31.6Q
2
Alberto Errecalde Argentina6:53.4R

Round 2 heat 3
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Arthur Sulley Great Britain6:30.6Q
2
Jerzy Skolimowski Poland6:43.2R

Round 2 heat 4
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Angelo Polledri Italy6:54.0Q
2
Koos Schouwenaar Netherlands6:59.0

Round 2 heat 5
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
John Donnelly Canada6:59.0Q

Second repechage

The winner advanced to the third round, while the loser was eliminated.

RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Jerzy Skolimowski Poland6:24.6Q
2
Alberto Errecalde Argentina6:33.0

Quarterfinals

The competition became single-elimination from this point, with losers being eliminated even if they had not previously had to advance through a repechage.

Quarterfinal 1
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
John Donnelly Canada6:37.4Q
2
Jerzy Skolimowski Poland6:42.2

Quarterfinal 2
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Arthur Sulley Great Britain6:34.2Q
2
Fritz Bauer Germany6:42.8

Quarterfinal 3
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Donald Blessing United States6:32.8Q
2
Angelo Polledri Italy6:44.4

Semifinals

Great Britain advanced uncontested to the final, and was joined by the United States after the United States won the only semifinal against Canada. Canada received the bronze medal.

Semifinal 1
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Donald Blessing United States6:02.0Q
2 (3rd place, bronze medalist(s))
John Donnelly Canada6:03.8

Semifinal 2
RankRowersCoxswainNationTimeNotes
1
Arthur Sulley Great Britain6:23.6Q

Final
RankRowersCoxswainNationTime
1st place, gold medalist(s)
Donald Blessing United States6:03.2
2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Arthur Sulley Great Britain6:05.6

References
  1. "Rowing at the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Games: Men's Coxed Eights". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. "Eight, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. "Why Do We Race 2000m? The History Behind the Distance". World Rowing. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. "1928 Summer Olympics official report" (PDF).
  5. "Rowing 1928".
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