New Zealand wins women's double sculls rowing gold.[Xinhua]

New Zealand claimed the Olympic title in the race of women's double sculls held in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday with a 0.01 second racer thin margin.

The twin Swindell sisters finished the race with a result of 7 minutes 7.32 seconds, followed by the German crew with a result of 7:07.33 and the British crew 7:07.55. The contest was such a close one that one could not recognize which team was the real winner.

Caroline Evers-Swindell and Georgina Evers-Swindell were born on Oct. 10, 1978. They won the gold medal at Athens Olympics in the same event in 2004 with a result of 7:01.79.

The Chinese team Li Qian and Tian Liang finished the race in the fourth place with a result of 7:15.85. They took the lead in the first part of the race, but was surpassed by other boats in the second part. The Swindell sisters rowed very hard and made a perfect sprint in the last 200 meters.

"I can't believe it. It is a record. It has been a long way," Caroline said in the mixed zone.

On their plan after the Beijing Olympics, she said that they were in the middle of the journey to more glory.

"Goodness knows we didn't have a good start. We were behind," Caroline said.

On the race, she said: "It's been a tough last week, we just wanted to have a good race. We're so pleased."

The silver medallist Annekatrin Thiele from Germany was also very excited.

"The level of the three medallists is very close. I didn't know which place we were during the race even though I gave a glimpse at the last 100 meter point. I just gave my best," she told reporters.

Commenting on her performance in the race, she said she had reached her goal.

"I think I reached my goal even though a gold medal would have been better. The race is over, we will just enjoy our silver medal and maybe do some sightseeing in Beijing," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)