| | Event type
Coxless Pairs, Men
| Date | 21 – 27 July 1996 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Lake Sidney Lanier, Gainesville, Georgia |
| Participants | 36 from 18 countries |
Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent were the defending Olympic champions in the men’s coxless pairs, gold medalists at the last four World Championships, and winners of four of the last six Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cups at the Henley Royal Regatta. They were the overwhelming favorites for the event at the 1996 Summer Olympics, although they were not absolutely dominant at the Games. The duo won their heats in both the opening round and the semi-finals, but with times slower than the other heat winners, which was a likely a tactic to conserve their strength. In the final, they met legitimate challenges from Australians David Weightman and Robert Scott, World bronze and silver medalists in 1995 and 1994 respectively, and France’s Michel Andrieux and Jean-Christophe Rolland, the 1995 third-place finishers, but in the end were the superior rowers and successfully defended their crown. Australia and France finished second and third respectively, far ahead of the rest of the field.
Round One
| Date | 21 July 1996 |
|---|---|
| Format | Winner of each heat advanced to semi-finals |
Heat #1
| Time | 9:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Michel Andrieux / Jean-Christophe Rolland |  FRA | 6:35.75 | 1:36.72 (3) | 3:15.70 (1) | 4:56.70 (1) | 1:38.98 (1) | 1:41.00 (3) | 1:39.05 (1) | ||
| 2 | 3 | Marco Penna / Walter Bottega |  ITA | 6:39.34 | 1:36.29 (2) | 3:16.46 (2) | 4:57.38 (2) | 1:40.17 (2) | 1:40.92 (1) | 1:41.96 (4) | ||
| 3 | 6 | Dave Schaper / Toni Dunlop |  NZL | 6:42.15 | 1:35.55 (1) | 3:17.13 (3) | 4:58.67 (3) | 1:41.58 (3) | 1:41.54 (4) | 1:43.48 (6) | ||
| 4 | 5 | Luc Goiris / Jaak Van Driessche |  BEL | 6:43.83 | 1:37.36 (4) | 3:21.20 (5) | 5:02.14 (4) | 1:43.84 (6) | 1:40.94 (2) | 1:41.69 (3) | ||
| 5 | 2 | Juozas Bagdonas / Einius Petkus |  LTU | 6:45.92 | 1:37.95 (5) | 3:20.66 (4) | 5:03.92 (5) | 1:42.71 (4) | 1:43.26 (5) | 1:42.00 (5) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Andreas Nader / Hermann Bauer |  AUT | 6:46.18 | 1:38.74 (6) | 3:21.58 (6) | 5:05.33 (6) | 1:42.84 (5) | 1:43.75 (6) | 1:40.85 (2) |
Heat #2
| Time | 9:10 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Steven Redgrave / Matthew Pinsent |  GBR | 6:50.04 | 1:35.31 (1) | 3:15.42 (1) | 4:58.63 (1) | 1:40.11 (1) | 1:43.21 (1) | 1:51.41 (6) | ||
| 2 | 4 | Marko Banović / Ninoslav Saraga |  CRO | 6:54.05 | 1:35.67 (2) | 3:18.25 (2) | 5:05.56 (2) | 1:42.58 (2) | 1:47.31 (4) | 1:48.49 (4) | ||
| 3 | 2 | Carlos Palavecino / Walter Balunek |  ARG | 6:56.03 | 1:36.84 (3) | 3:21.97 (3) | 5:09.03 (3) | 1:45.13 (5) | 1:47.06 (2) | 1:47.00 (2) | ||
| 4 | 5 | Matthias Ungemach / Colin von Ettingshausen |  GER | 6:57.78 | 1:37.72 (4) | 3:22.78 (5) | 5:09.87 (4) | 1:45.06 (4) | 1:47.09 (3) | 1:47.91 (3) | ||
| 5 | 6 | Sjors van Iwaarden / Kai Compagner |  NED | 7:00.45 | 1:39.34 (6) | 3:25.93 (6) | 5:14.17 (6) | 1:46.59 (6) | 1:48.24 (5) | 1:46.28 (1) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Greg Bayne / John Callie |  RSA | 7:01.05 | 1:38.85 (5) | 3:22.34 (4) | 5:11.56 (5) | 1:43.49 (3) | 1:49.22 (6) | 1:49.49 (5) |
Heat #3
| Time | 9:20 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | David Weightman / Robert Scott |  AUS | 6:46.12 | 1:36.30 (1) | 3:16.83 (1) | 4:59.19 (1) | 1:40.53 (1) | 1:42.36 (1) | 1:46.93 (4) | ||
| 2 | 4 | Mike Peterson / Adam Holland |  USA | 6:53.95 | 1:37.12 (3) | 3:18.47 (2) | 5:04.33 (2) | 1:41.35 (2) | 1:45.86 (2) | 1:49.62 (6) | ||
| 3 | 2 | Orlin Ninov / Nikolay Kolev |  BUL | 6:56.09 | 1:36.64 (2) | 3:20.86 (3) | 5:10.11 (3) | 1:44.22 (3) | 1:49.25 (4) | 1:45.98 (3) | ||
| 4 | 6 | Dzmitry Plechistik / Dzmitry Mironchuk |  BLR | 6:57.57 | 1:38.98 (5) | 3:26.23 (5) | 5:13.29 (5) | 1:47.25 (6) | 1:47.06 (3) | 1:44.28 (1) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Attila Racz / Nicolae Spîrcu |  ROU | 6:57.77 | 1:38.56 (4) | 3:23.72 (4) | 5:12.98 (4) | 1:45.16 (4) | 1:49.26 (5) | 1:44.79 (2) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Takeshi Kodama / Kazuhiko Kurata |  JPN | 7:06.56 | 1:42.10 (6) | 3:28.61 (6) | 5:18.59 (6) | 1:46.51 (5) | 1:49.98 (6) | 1:47.97 (5) |
Round One Repêchage
| Date | 23 July 1996 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top three in each heat advanced to semi-finals |
Heat #1
| Time | 9:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Marco Penna / Walter Bottega | ITA | 7:10.25 | 1:41.77 (1) | 3:29.92 (1) | 5:20.38 (1) | 1:48.15 (1) | 1:50.46 (2) | 1:49.87 (5) | ||
| 2 | 5 | Juozas Bagdonas / Einius Petkus | LTU | 7:10.47 | 1:46.47 (4) | 3:37.55 (4) | 5:27.34 (3) | 1:51.08 (5) | 1:49.79 (1) | 1:43.13 (2) | ||
| 3 | 2 | Carlos Palavecino / Walter Balunek | ARG | 7:10.57 | 1:43.64 (2) | 3:33.76 (2) | 5:25.02 (2) | 1:50.12 (2) | 1:51.26 (4) | 1:45.55 (4) | ||
| 4 | 1 | Greg Bayne / John Callie | RSA | 7:11.14 | 1:45.46 (3) | 3:36.40 (3) | 5:27.75 (4) | 1:50.94 (3) | 1:51.35 (5) | 1:43.39 (3) | ||
| 5 | 4 | Dzmitry Plechistik / Dzmitry Mironchuk | BLR | 7:12.14 | 1:47.79 (5) | 3:38.74 (5) | 5:29.84 (5) | 1:50.95 (4) | 1:51.10 (3) | 1:42.30 (1) |
Heat #2
| Time | 9:10 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Marko Banović / Ninoslav Saraga | CRO | 7:05.81 | 1:41.88 (3) | 3:30.13 (2) | 5:17.43 (1) | 1:48.25 (1) | 1:47.30 (1) | 1:48.38 (2) | ||
| 2 | 2 | Luc Goiris / Jaak Van Driessche | BEL | 7:06.76 | 1:41.57 (2) | 3:30.34 (3) | 5:19.29 (3) | 1:48.77 (2) | 1:48.95 (2) | 1:47.47 (1) | ||
| 3 | 4 | Orlin Ninov / Nikolay Kolev | BUL | 7:13.48 | 1:39.87 (1) | 3:29.23 (1) | 5:18.29 (2) | 1:49.36 (3) | 1:49.06 (3) | 1:55.19 (3) | ||
| 4 | 1 | Sjors van Iwaarden / Kai Compagner | NED | 7:24.17 | 1:43.32 (4) | 3:35.25 (4) | 5:27.27 (4) | 1:51.93 (4) | 1:52.02 (4) | 1:56.90 (5) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Takeshi Kodama / Kazuhiko Kurata | JPN | 7:36.68 | 1:47.60 (5) | 3:43.66 (5) | 5:41.18 (5) | 1:56.06 (5) | 1:57.52 (5) | 1:55.50 (4) |
Heat #3
| Time | 9:20 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Mike Peterson / Adam Holland | USA | 7:02.13 | 1:37.88 (1) | 3:23.29 (1) | 5:12.22 (1) | 1:45.41 (1) | 1:48.93 (2) | 1:49.91 (5) | ||
| 2 | 1 | Andreas Nader / Hermann Bauer | AUT | 7:03.86 | 1:41.85 (3) | 3:28.52 (3) | 5:16.83 (3) | 1:46.67 (3) | 1:48.31 (1) | 1:47.03 (2) | ||
| 3 | 4 | Toni Dunlop / Dave Schaper | NZL | 7:04.40 | 1:40.29 (2) | 3:26.81 (2) | 5:15.93 (2) | 1:46.52 (2) | 1:49.12 (3) | 1:48.47 (3) | ||
| 4 | 5 | Attila Racz / Nicolae Spîrcu | ROU | 7:07.96 | 1:43.36 (5) | 3:32.21 (4) | 5:22.74 (4) | 1:48.85 (4) | 1:50.53 (5) | 1:45.22 (1) | ||
| 5 | 2 | Matthias Ungemach / Colin von Ettingshausen | GER | 7:11.67 | 1:42.67 (4) | 3:32.58 (5) | 5:22.99 (5) | 1:49.91 (5) | 1:50.41 (4) | 1:48.68 (4) |
Semi-Finals
| Date | 25 July 1996 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top three in each heat advanced to final |
Heat #1
| Time | 9:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | David Weightman / Robert Scott | AUS | 6:46.43 | 1:37.78 (2) | 3:19.74 (2) | 5:03.54 (1) | 1:41.96 (1) | 1:43.80 (1) | 1:42.89 (2) | ||
| 2 | 3 | Michel Andrieux / Jean-Christophe Rolland | FRA | 6:49.15 | 1:37.12 (1) | 3:19.31 (1) | 5:05.49 (2) | 1:42.19 (2) | 1:46.18 (2) | 1:43.66 (3) | ||
| 3 | 2 | Marko Banović / Ninoslav Saraga | CRO | 6:55.89 | 1:38.28 (3) | 3:22.01 (3) | 5:09.38 (3) | 1:43.73 (4) | 1:47.37 (3) | 1:46.51 (5) | ||
| 4 | 6 | Andreas Nader / Hermann Bauer | AUT | 6:57.44 | 1:39.88 (5) | 3:25.19 (5) | 5:13.71 (5) | 1:45.31 (5) | 1:48.52 (4) | 1:43.73 (4) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Juozas Bagdonas / Einius Petkus | LTU | 6:57.75 | 1:40.29 (6) | 3:26.78 (6) | 5:15.31 (6) | 1:46.49 (6) | 1:48.53 (5) | 1:42.44 (1) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Orlin Ninov / Nikolay Kolev | BUL | 7:00.12 | 1:39.06 (4) | 3:22.27 (4) | 5:11.79 (4) | 1:43.21 (3) | 1:49.52 (6) | 1:48.33 (6) |
Heat #2
| Time | 9:10 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Steven Redgrave / Matthew Pinsent | GBR | 6:50.30 | 1:37.04 (2) | 3:21.89 (2) | 5:05.82 (1) | 1:44.85 (2) | 1:43.93 (1) | 1:44.48 (4) | ||
| 2 | 1 | Toni Dunlop / Dave Schaper | NZL | 6:51.64 | 1:38.33 (4) | 3:23.68 (4) | 5:10.41 (4) | 1:45.35 (4) | 1:46.73 (3) | 1:41.23 (1) | ||
| 3 | 3 | Marco Penna / Walter Bottega | ITA | 6:52.32 | 1:37.59 (3) | 3:22.59 (3) | 5:08.75 (3) | 1:45.00 (3) | 1:46.16 (2) | 1:43.57 (3) | ||
| 4 | 2 | Mike Peterson / Adam Holland | USA | 6:52.92 | 1:36.05 (1) | 3:19.67 (1) | 5:07.20 (2) | 1:43.62 (1) | 1:47.53 (5) | 1:45.72 (5) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Luc Goiris / Jaak Van Driessche | BEL | 6:55.84 | 1:39.23 (5) | 3:26.66 (5) | 5:13.69 (5) | 1:47.43 (5) | 1:47.03 (4) | 1:42.15 (2) | ||
| 6 | 6 | Carlos Palavecino / Walter Balunek | ARG | 7:14.59 | 1:40.85 (6) | 3:30.67 (6) | 5:22.57 (6) | 1:49.82 (6) | 1:51.90 (6) | 1:52.02 (6) |
Final Round
| Date | 26 – 27 July 1996 |
|---|
Final A
| Time | 27 July 1996 — 10:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Steven Redgrave / Matthew Pinsent | GBR | 6:20.09 | 1:32.22 (1) | 3:08.97 (1) | 4:47.08 (1) | 1:36.75 (1) | 1:38.11 (2) | 1:33.01 (3) | ||
| 2 | 3 | David Weightman / Robert Scott | AUS | 6:21.02 | 1:34.44 (3) | 3:12.01 (3) | 4:49.49 (2) | 1:37.57 (4) | 1:37.48 (1) | 1:31.53 (2) | ||
| 3 | 2 | Michel Andrieux / Jean-Christophe Rolland | FRA | 6:22.15 | 1:34.99 (5) | 3:11.82 (2) | 4:50.90 (3) | 1:36.83 (2) | 1:39.08 (3) | 1:31.25 (1) | ||
| 4 | 1 | Marco Penna / Walter Bottega | ITA | 6:28.61 | 1:35.65 (6) | 3:12.93 (4) | 4:53.67 (5) | 1:37.28 (3) | 1:40.74 (5) | 1:34.94 (5) | ||
| 5 | 5 | Toni Dunlop / Dave Schaper | NZL | 6:29.24 | 1:34.15 (2) | 3:13.19 (5) | 4:52.81 (4) | 1:39.04 (5) | 1:39.62 (4) | 1:36.43 (6) | ||
| 6 | 6 | Marko Banović / Ninoslav Saraga | CRO | 6:30.48 | 1:34.73 (4) | 3:14.78 (6) | 4:55.56 (6) | 1:40.05 (6) | 1:40.78 (6) | 1:34.92 (4) |
Final B
| Time | 27 July 1996 — 9:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Mike Peterson / Adam Holland | USA | 6:33.81 | 1:33.99 (2) | 3:14.79 (2) | 4:56.48 (2) | 1:40.80 (1) | 1:41.69 (2) | 1:37.33 (2) | ||
| 2 | 2 | Luc Goiris / Jaak Van Driessche | BEL | 6:34.46 | 1:35.14 (3) | 3:16.36 (3) | 4:57.85 (3) | 1:41.22 (3) | 1:41.49 (1) | 1:36.61 (1) | ||
| 3 | 6 | Orlin Ninov / Nikolay Kolev | BUL | 6:35.71 | 1:32.55 (1) | 3:13.43 (1) | 4:56.08 (1) | 1:40.88 (2) | 1:42.65 (4) | 1:39.63 (5) | ||
| 4 | 5 | Juozas Bagdonas / Einius Petkus | LTU | 6:38.12 | 1:36.56 (6) | 3:18.12 (5) | 4:59.93 (4) | 1:41.56 (5) | 1:41.81 (3) | 1:38.19 (4) | ||
| 5 | 3 | Andreas Nader / Hermann Bauer | AUT | 6:38.60 | 1:36.11 (5) | 3:17.45 (4) | 5:00.53 (5) | 1:41.34 (4) | 1:43.08 (5) | 1:38.07 (3) | ||
| 6 | 1 | Carlos Palavecino / Walter Balunek | ARG | 6:49.34 | 1:35.74 (4) | 3:18.64 (6) | 5:03.96 (6) | 1:42.90 (6) | 1:45.32 (6) | 1:45.38 (6) |
Final C
| Time | 26 July 1996 — 10:40 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Pair | NOC | Time | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 500-1,000 m | 1,000-1,500 m | 1,500-2,000 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Attila Racz / Nicolae Spîrcu | ROU | 7:01.94 | 1:42.11 (3) | 3:30.08 (2) | 5:21.46 (1) | 1:47.97 (1) | 1:51.38 (5) | 1:40.48 (1) | ||
| 2 | 6 | Dzmitry Plechistik / Dzmitry Mironchuk | BLR | 7:03.31 | 1:38.68 (1) | 3:29.72 (1) | 5:21.86 (2) | 1:51.04 (5) | 1:52.14 (6) | 1:41.45 (2) | ||
| 3 | 1 | Matthias Ungemach / Colin von Ettingshausen | GER | 7:06.88 | 1:41.76 (2) | 3:32.34 (3) | 5:22.26 (3) | 1:50.58 (4) | 1:49.92 (2) | 1:44.62 (3) | ||
| 4 | 3 | Greg Bayne / John Callie | RSA | 7:09.91 | 1:44.94 (5) | 3:35.43 (5) | 5:25.12 (5) | 1:50.49 (3) | 1:49.69 (1) | 1:44.79 (4) | ||
| 5 | 2 | Sjors van Iwaarden / Kai Compagner | NED | 7:10.43 | 1:43.21 (4) | 3:34.28 (4) | 5:24.61 (4) | 1:51.07 (6) | 1:50.33 (3) | 1:45.82 (5) | ||
| 6 | 5 | Takeshi Kodama / Kazuhiko Kurata | JPN | 7:21.31 | 1:46.76 (6) | 3:36.77 (6) | 5:27.88 (6) | 1:50.01 (2) | 1:51.11 (4) | 1:53.43 (6) |