US rowing women storm to flagship gold

The United States powered to gold in the flagship women's Olympic eight after fighting off fierce rivals Canada to maintain their stunning six-year winning streak and cap a thrilling day of racing on Dorney Lake.

The dominance of the US women contrasted with the other two Olympic finals of the day, when New Zealand sprinted through the field to grab gold on the line in the men's double sculls while South Africa snatched victory in a thrilling men's lightweight four final.

In the eight, the American crew took a half a length lead over Canada and the Netherlands in the early stages before holding on as their neighbours came back at them before 25,000 roaring fans packed into the course to the west of London.

"This was awesome, at the end I don't think I could have pulled one more stroke," Caroline Lind told reporters on the side of the lake. "We got the gold and that is what mattered."

New Zealand's Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan, the double sculls world champions, had been sitting in fifth place for most of their race before they upped their rate and surged through a tiring field in an electrifying final 300 metres.

Italy's Alessio Sartori and Romano Battisti took silver and the experienced Slovenian crew of Luka Spik and Iztok Cop grabbed bronze after fading in the second half of the race. The Slovenians have now completed the set after winning silver in Athens and gold in Sydney.