No 38: Robertson boys contribute to Munich glory (1972)
The gold medal by the eight at the Munich Olympics in 1972 is one of the highlights of New Zealand sport. It had an emotional impact on the country and is recalled fondly today.
It was special to Otago because Rusty Robertson, of Oamaru, was the coach and his nephew and Oamaru club member Gary Robertson sat in the bow seat.
Rusty Robertson, the outstanding coach of the New Zealand rowing squad, was confident the gold medal could be achieved.
"I felt fairly good before the final," he later recalled. "I really couldn't see anyone faster if we could put it together properly."
Robertson liked to get his crew away fast to establish early dominance of the race. He then relied on cox Simon Dickie's powers of persuasion and communication, and the ability and heart of his oarsmen, to ensure no-one got past.
The New Zealanders, at a remarkable 45 strokes per minute, were a length ahead after only 500m. They sprinted again at the 850m mark and kept the pressure on until the 1250m mark.
The East Germans and Americans began to sprint, but the New Zealand crew's lead was too big.
Gary Robertson lay back exhausted at the finish and the New Zealand supporters in the stands cheered and did an impromptu haka.
Then it was time for the medal ceremony. They played God Defend New Zealand, when the Kiwis on the dais had been expecting God Save The Queen.
They started to weep from the emotion.
It marked the peak of Rusty Robertson's great coaching career. He was to stay at the helm for four more years - New Zealand won a bronze in the eight in 1976 - but never hit those heights again.
"That race in 1972 was the highlight, no doubt about that," he said.
"I took great pride in all my crews, but there was never a moment like that. It was very emotional."
Robertson was a national selector and coach from 1967, and his 1968 Olympic coxed four won gold in Mexico City.
He was lured to Australia in 1976, and died in 1990.
