American Pair Poised for a Grand Finale

Lindsay Burns and Teresa Bell came to the Games looking for a rowing medal. Their semifinal victory and a loss by the defending world champions have them thinking gold.

Colleen Miller and Wendy Wiebe of Canada were favored in lightweight women’s double sculls, but finished only fifth and failed to advance to Sunday’s medals race.

Burns will retire from racing after Sunday’s final.

Meanwhile, Karen Kraft and Missy Schwen, favored to win the first U.S. women’s gold since 1984, defeated the defending world champion Australians in the Olympic women’s pair semifinals. The top three in the event advanced, so the Americans and Australians will face each other again today in the finals.

Ruth Davidon will race today after finishing second behind Denmark’s Trine Hansen in the women’s single sculls.

U.S. pair Michael Peterson and Adam Holland led their semifinal before Peterson began struggling because of a combination of high blood sugar and lactic acid. The pair finished fourth, failing to qualify for the finals.

Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain will race for their second straight gold in coxless pairs, and a victory would make Redgrave only the fourth Olympian to win gold at four straight games.