WINDSOR, England (AP) — Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand won the gold medal in men’s single sculls at the Olympic rowing regatta, completing the resume of one of the sport’s leading names.
The five-time world champion held off longtime rival Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic to win in a time of 6 minutes, 57.82 seconds. Synek was a half-length behind for the silver, and Alan Campbell of Britain took the bronze.
Drysdale went into the Beijing Olympics in 2008 as a huge favorite, but fell ill days before the final and struggled to a bronze.
With the men’s pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray also winning their final on Friday, New Zealand tops the rowing medals table with three golds.
