Thankful first gold in a 'true' Olympic sportPHOTOSPORT/John CowplandOPINION: Thank heavens for that. Not only did I wake on Friday to find the New Zealand team at the Rio Olympics had finally collected their first gold medal, but it came in what, to me, is one of the "true" Olympic sports. Ditto for Watson, the two-time US Masters winner, one of a clutch of major champions in action in the Rio golf event that teed off on Thursday night. For those with the essential combination of talent and work ethic, like Bond and Murray, or the Evers-Swindell sisters, Olympic gold medals, world titles, and, deservedly, the chance to leverage off their success financially to some degree. To me, rowing is one of those sports that carries that almost indefinable Olympic spirit, characterised by its main focus being on competition, not on money.

Source: Stuff August 12, 2016 05:07 UTC