Sally Robbins (born July 15 1981) is an Australian rower, who was a member of Australia's 2004 Summer Olympics Women's Eight Rowing crew. Sally Robbins was involved in an infamous incident in the 2004 Olympics final held on August 22. Her team were well-placed for a bronze medal when, 500 meters from the finish, she dropped her oar, allowing it to drag in the water, appeared to collapse and laid back on teammate Julia Wilson's lap. Australia, consequently, finished last.
Robbins was accused of mental weaknesss and publicly humiliated in the Australian media as "Lay-down Sally". The Daily Telegraph reported: "In a team sport such as rowing what she did was unforgivable. It appears Robbins committed the greatest crime there is in honest sport: she quit."[1] Even Australian Prime Minister John Howard became involved in the row, saying[2]:
"I'm not taking sides but it's always regrettable, it's tough and there's a lot of pressure. It's always a good idea to bind together but look, I wasn't there and I can understand the passion the emotion and the effort that goes into these things and the sense of disappointment people feel."
This was not the first time Robbins had been involved in such an incident. In the women's quad scull at the 2002 World Rowing Championships in Seville Robbins had also dropped her oar, costing Australia certain victory. 2000 Summer Olympics silver medallist Rachael Taylor was quoted as saying[3] :
"Australia was blitzing the race, leading the entire field all the way. It was as about as sure a thing as you could get to having the world title in the bag, when with approximately 400 metres to go Sally Robbins stopped rowing. The Australian crew dropped back and finished in fourth position. Sally's three teammates were understandably shocked, devastated and inconsolable: not at all dissimilar to the sickening re-enactment I witnessed on Sunday."
In March 2006, Robbins publicly expressed a desire to row for Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics. [4] In April and May 2007, Robbins' motivational problems were discussed in court by former team members Katie Foulkes (coxswain) and Kyeema Doyle when they were called upon by Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones to give evidence on his behalf in response to a defamation suit brought by Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates. [5][6] On Rowing Australia althletes profile page, Robbins personal motto is recorded as "Never surrender the dream".[7]
References
- ^ The Age: Robbins drops oar, team drops bundle
- ^ ABC News: Rowers face censure for dumping on Robbins
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald: They said they'd throw me off the boat
- ^ "I want to row at Beijing games: Lay Down Sally", 8 March 2006, Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ "Robbins lay down 'at least seven times'", Leonie Lamont, 30 April 2007, Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ "Cox recalls Olympics no-row fiasco", Leonie Lamont, 1 May 2007, Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ Rowing Australia Profile: Sally Robbins
