The coxswains may be the ones who put in the smallest amount of effort, but without them, the eights teams competing in the final on Saturday would have little chance to make the podium.

Modern coxes are responsible for steering, instructing and executing the race plan. They also have access to a wealth of data in real time about the race, allowing them to maximize the effort of their crews.

Heidi Long, a British rower said: "He [coxswain Henry Fielding] brings out the very best in us. We couldn't do it without him."

Harriet Taylor, a teammate of Taylor's, said: "I think the role of cox is undervalued and perhaps underrated by those who do not really understand rowing."

We're all in a large group, and he makes sure we all do the same thing. He takes all of the stress out of what we need to accomplish. "We know when we are at the starting line that everything has been handled," Long said.

On Saturday, at Vaires-surMarne's Nautical stadium, will take place the eights finals. The British have a good chance of winning if Fielding keeps them on track.

After her team's elimination, Danish cox Sophie Oestergaard said that the job was challenging.

The two strings are connected to the boat's rudder. I use them to steer it. She said: "I have in front me a box with a bunch of information on it, like how many strokes it takes to take a minute or the time it takes for us to get 500 meters."

In a race it is about following the plan the coach and I have agreed upon beforehand.

Oestergaard acknowledged that emotions can start to kick in as soon as the race begins.

She said, "During the races, I shout most of the time. During training and warm-up, the focus is on keeping the heads cool and maintaining the eyes focused and glued to the boat. But then, obviously, once the race begins, there's lots of screaming."

On Saturday at 10.50 am local time, the women's eights will take place, and then the men's race, the final of the Olympic regatta.

(source: Reuters)