Lightweight Double Sculls, Men

Men’s lightweight rowing events were held for the first time at the Olympics in 1996, but they had been present at the World Championships since 1974. The reigning World Champions in the lightweight double sculls were brothers Markus and Michael Gier of Switzerland, who were favored to take the inaugural crown in Atlanta. The siblings won their heat in the opening round, but did not post the fastest time; that honor went to the Spanish duo of José María de Marco and José Carlos Sáez. The other heats were won by the Netherlands, represented by Maarten van der Linden and Pepijn Aardewijn, and Australia, who sent Anthony Edwards and Bruce Hick, the latter of whom had been World Champion in 1992 and 1993 and both of whom had been bronze medalists in 1995. The semi-finals were taken by Switzerland and Sweden, the latter of whom had sent their reigning World runners-up, Mattias Tichy and Anders Christensson. In the final, Switzerland won gold with ease, just over three seconds ahead of the Dutch, who battled the Australians to the line for silver and captured it with only 0.21 seconds to spare, leaving Australia to settle for bronze. The Swiss’ rowing title was one of its first since 1928, along with Xeno Müller’s in the men’s single sculls.