THE Australian Olympic eights rowing team that competed in Ballarat in 1956 was left to rue what could have been, but now three of the men have come back to compete in the World Rowing Masters Regatta on Lake Wendouree this week.
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Adrian Monger rowed at seven, and said coming back to Lake Wendouree made him think of the coaching decision that lead to their fading at the end of the final in 1956.
"All we had to do was paddle along in the semi, to come ahead of the Russians and Japanese, and the coach said we had to try and beat them again, like we did in the heat," he said.
"We had this gut-busting race, and the next day we were buggered. In the final with 500m to go (the Canadians and Americans) rode through us."
The Australians finished third, and the Americans continued their dominance of the event, which came to an end the following Olympics.
"We were very disappointed," said Mr Monger, who is 82.
This week he will row with his former Olympic teammate Neville Howell in the coxless fours and fours. Fellow teammate David Boykett is also attending the regatta.
Mr Howell, 85, has embraced the masters level of the sport, but still looks back on the '56 Olympics.
"We won (the heat) clearly, we thought we had it made," he said.
He said he found he had 120 medals from competitions over the years, and was presented with an Order of the Oar award by the masters association, given to those who compete over the age of 80.
"I used to be the only one, and now there are 17 of us (with the order)," he said.
Mr Howell is based at Nagambie, which he said is much smoother than Lake Wendouree.
He is competing in single, pairs and fours events.
The men made it to the Melbourne Olympics because Victoria had won the King's Cup, giving coach Bob Aitken sole control of team selection and management.
"He was a bit one-eyed, but there was one New South Welshman on the boat. Big young guy," said Mr Howell.
This selection regime worked against the team in 1960, however, when the West Australian crew won selection.
Mr Monger a West Australian who had come to Melbourne University did make the Rome crew, but said they "were all sick" and didn't make a dent, leaving the gold to the Germans.
Both men have stayed in contact with their fellow rowers from the games, and even caught up with a former competitor in Melbourne some years ago.
"We correspond with the people we met here," said Mr Monger.
"One of the Japanese rowers took us out for dinner in Melbourne, at the Flower Drum. He became head of Nippon Steel after the games," said Mr Monger.
Although the boats and racing outfits have changed in the almost 60 years since the games, Mr Howell made sure to have one piece of gear from 1956.
"There are the Australia tracksuit pants," he said.
"The elastics a bit gone and they're a bit saggy, but that fits their owner."
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au
