Australia have picked up another Olympic medal with the men’s K4 500m team winning silver in Paris.
The crew of Riley Fitzsimmons, Pierre van der Westhuyzen, Jackson Collins and Noah Havard came within a whisker of gold, but lost out to the Germans by just 0.04s in a brutal photo finish.
After setting a new Olympic record in the semi-final, the Aussies were a strong chance to clinch gold.
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But they were slightly slow out of the blocks with Spain storming to the front.
Germany and Australia quickly closed the gap in the home stretch to set up a thrilling finish.
The Germans hit the front, but the Aussies gave it everything in the final 50m with a photo needed to decide the victor.
Unfortunately, it went to Germany in a time of 1:19.80 with the Aussies just behind in 1:19.84, which was marginally slower than their Olympic record in the semi-final (1:19.22).
Despite the heartbreaking finish, the crew were all smiles after winning Australia’s first silver in this event.
“Just trying to let it soak in a little bit. Still feels a bit surreal. It’s been an incredible journey we’ve been an incredible journey we’ve been on. It’s been a really tough three years for this K4. To get that result with these boys, incredible,” Havard told Nine after the race.
It had been a disappointing campaign so far for the rowers, with just one bronze medal from 15 events.
Earlier, the women’s crew of Ella Beere, Aly Bull, Alexandra Clarke and Yale Steinepreis finished eighth in their final.
The Aussies were never really in the hunt as New Zealand and Germany battled it out for gold.
But with legend Lisa Carrington on board, the Kiwis prevailed to deliver the 35-year-old her sixth individual gold.
The Germans won silver, with Hungary taking bronze.