Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis made a golden start yesterday.
And two other boats finished off the full complement of medals in what was a sparkling night for New Zealand rowing at the Paris Olympics.
New Zealand won a gold, silver and bronze in the doubles and fours on day eight of the Games yesterday.
![Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors celebrate winning gold in the double sculls at Vaires-Sur-Marne...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/gettyimages-2164764514_1.jpg)
Sitting third at the 1000m mark, Spoors and Francis - who became the first crew of mothers to win an Olympic rowing medal - showed their strength in the final half to push ahead.
Through the tears as they stood on the podium, pride beamed from Spoors and Francis, who had not won a race since becoming mothers until the Olympics.
"I can’t believe it — honestly I’m in shock," Spoors told Sky Sport.
![](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_medium_4_3/public/story/2024/08/olympic-games-paris-2024-logo.jpg?itok=C4PuJzTB)
"I think from the start we were just so brave. We wanted to be brave and just put it all out there and I felt so brave with Brooke through the middle."
Tom Murray, Matt Macdonald - who were part of the men’s eight that won gold in Tokyo - Ollie Maclean and Logan Ullrich secured silver in the men’s coxless four.
They finished in 5min 49.88sec behind the US, who won gold in 5min 49.03sec.
![The men’s coxless four of (from left) Ollie MacLean, Logan Ullrich, Tomo Murray and Matta...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/story/2024/08/gettyimages-2164772327.jpg)
The Netherlands won gold, finishing just 00.28sec ahead of Great Britain.
Robbie Manson and Jordan Parry finished sixth in the men’s double sculls, clocking in at 6min 21.44sec.
![Bronze medal winners (from left) Jackie Gowler, Phoebe Spoors, Davina Waddy and Kerri Williams...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/story/2024/08/gettyimages-2164770768.jpg)
Earlier in the semifinals, Emma Twigg and Tom Mackintosh qualified for the women’s and men’s single sculls finals.