Harry Brightmore, coxswain of Britain’s men's 8s team on the last day of rowing was ecstatic about the victory. However, he took care not to slip into the water before the ceremony.

Brightmore, 30, led his team to victory. They dominated the race and cruised home in front of the Netherlands.

Brightmore, a jubilant Brightmore, said: "These guys like to hear that even in their pain they are capable of more. It's basically my job to crack the whistle."

We needed to be ruthless in the second half, even though we had a slight lead at some points.

The British team's rhythmic pacing and rowing allowed them to keep the lead, leaving the Dutch and Americans fighting for second.

Cox, a two-time world champion, said that his coaching was primarily motivational but also included some traditional methods.

He explained, "Absolutely there is technical stuff there because when these guys try as hard, they could lose the groove and the patterns. So I have to make sure they row as neatly and technically as possible, even if they get tunnel vision."

Brightmore's crew was all ears, whether he corrected them or encouraged them.

Tom Digby, a rower from the UK said: "I don't recall anything else (about the race) other than three things he said."

Brightmore’s frenetic crying gave way to pure joy when the crew reached the finish line with the gold. However, he made sure not to repeat Britain’s rowley Douglas, who won the gold at Sydney Games 2000. He wanted to remain dry during the award ceremony.

The emotions got the best of me. I wanted to see everybody's faces and congratulate them when they crossed the finish line.

He added, "I wasn't falling in so I was okay." Reporting by Philip O'Connor, Editing by Ken Ferris

(source: Reuters)