Rowing: Sinead Jennings took gold by beating two-time "I am totally thrilled," said the Donegal woman, who only took up rowing about two years ago.

The Romanian won gold in Atlanta and Sydney in the double scull with two different partners and also twice won World Championship gold. "Burcica was a good scalp to take," summed up Jennings' coach, Hamish Burrell.

Jennings will move into the double herself next year with her eyes set on Athens 2004 and this was a perfect confidence boost. The win will also send out a message to rivals who were not in Vienna: "It might frighten them a little," said the combative Ulster woman. The former triathlete needed her tough streak yesterday. On a day when the conditions were so rough that Matthew Pinsent had to bale water out of his boat before going on to win the pairs with James Cracknell, the Irishwoman took off determinedly. She was six seconds up by the 1,000 metres but ran into very rough water. With 250 metres to go Burcica had caught her. "I thought it's now or never," said Jennings, and she pulled clear to win by .85 of a second.

Having won silver in Vienna last year, nothing would do but a win. "I had to go one better this time," she said. Last night she returned to her home in Edinburgh, where she is a pharmacist. To rest and bask in the glow? No, she was set to be back on the water at 6 o'clock this morning.