Mahe Drysdale wins first heat in RioCAMERON SPENCER / GETTY IMAGESDefending champion Mahe Drysdale made a statement of intent on the first day of the Olympic rowing regatta in Rio, clocking the fastest heat time. Four-time world champion Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic won his heat but was more than 17sec slower than Drysdale. * Sign up here for the Rio Olympics: Going for Gold newsletter- NZN READ MORE:* Olympics burst into life* SBW's Bolt out of the blueThe second-quickest heat time among the 32 scullers went to Cuban Angel Fournier Rodriguez, more than 2sec back. With only a top-three finish required to reach the quarter-finals, the medal contenders didn't extend themselves in hot, calm conditions at Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.

Source: Stuff August 06, 2016 12:11 UTC