London: Moments before the "Star-Spangled Banner" resounded out across Dorney Lake, Taylor Ritzel looked at the gold medal hanging heavy round her neck. She shook her head and let out a huge, deep breath.
Ritzel was part of the United States women's eight that won a second straight Olympic gold, maintaining the boat's six-year dominance of the flagship event.
Earlier, South Africa won a closely-fought lightweight men's four race, the country's first-ever rowing gold. And New Zealand claimed its first gold of the London Games when Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan won the men's double sculls.
Ritzel's journey to the top of the podium was far more difficult than the serene way U.S. took gold at the expense of archrival Canada on Thursday.
In November 2010, soon after Ritzel had joined the eight, her mother, Lana, died of breast cancer. The loss could have knocked her sideways. Thanks to her crewmates, it didn't.
"For me ... the sport of rowing been a huge way to sort of get through the grieving process," Ritzel said, her bottom lip quivering.
"I think the sport and the eight other women in this boat, and the rest of Team USA, have made what seemed to be an impossible thing to get through possible."
The camaraderie in the women's eight was in full view as they hoisted up their linked arms when the announcer read out "Gold-medalists — the United States!"
Esther Lofgren was in tears. Susan Francia looked close to joining her.
Coxswain Mary Whipple received the biggest cheer as the medals were distributed under clearing skies on the pontoon. She would later be tossed into the lake by the jubilant crew.
"That is an American dynasty, baby," Francia said. "It's just so special."
The dynasty began at Dorney Lake in 2006 when the U.S. won the world championship and there was never an likelihood of it ending in Thursday's final.
Racing in a fierce crosswind, the U.S. led from start to finish to win in 6 minutes, 10.59 seconds, a half-length ahead of a fast-finishing Canadian crew who have come close this year to breaking the American stranglehold on the event.
In Lucerne in May, the Canadians lost out by only three hundredths of a second and they qualified for the Olympic final with a faster time in the heats. However, they left their charge for gold too late.
"Coming off the line, I felt so much," Whipple said. "And then when we took our stride, that was beautiful.
"We were a little high and I just told them to breathe and enjoy the moment. Feel each stroke. Be present. And we were present — the whole time. It was magical."
The Americans successfully defended the title they won in the Beijing Games in 2008. The country's only previous Olympic gold in the discipline came at Los Angeles in 1984.
The Netherlands took the bronze in the eight.
In the lightweight men's four, South Africa came through late to edge a favored British crew by 0.25 seconds. Denmark took the bronze 0.07 seconds further back, having led for all but 100 meters of the race.
South Africa's only other Olympic medal in rowing came in the men's pair in 2004.
"We kept ourselves for the sprint," South Africa's John Smith said. "I can't believe it."
Denmark's failure to hold on denied veteran stroke Eskild Ebbesen what would have been a fourth Olympic gold. He still won a fifth Olympic medal.
"It could have been gold, it could have been fourth of fifth, so I am very happy," the 40-year-old Ebbesen said.
For New Zealand, Cohen and Sullivan added an Olympic gold medal to their two world titles by producing a late surge to overtake Italy with about 200 meters left, winning in 6:31.67.
"It was painful, but so, so good," Sullivan said.
The Italians, a half length behind, captured the surprise silver medal. Slovenia won the bronze, having led for much of the race.
In the semifinals of the men's four, Britain gained a psychological advantage over Australia heading into Saturday's eagerly anticipated final by beating its big rival by a half-length.
The U.S. won the other semifinal and could yet be a factor in the final.
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