Britain wins Olympic rowing gold in men's 4

Great Britain's (from left) Andrew Triggs Hodge, Tom James, Pete Reed and Alex Gregory celebrate after winning the gold medal for the men's rowing four in Eton Dorney, near Windsor on August 4, 2012.

Britain successfully defended its Olympic rowing title in the men’s four by beating big rival Australia to gold at Dorney Lake on Saturday.

The crew of Alex Gregory, Pete Reed, Tom James, Andrew Triggs Hodge secured Britain’s fourth straight Olympic victory in the event by crossing in 6 minutes 3.97 seconds. Australia was a half-length behind in second and the United States took the bronze.

Britain, the reigning world champion, maintained its dominance of the discipline that stretches back more than two decades to the days of rowing greats Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent.

The gold was Britain’s seventh medal of the regatta to surpass its total from Beijing four years ago, making it the country’s biggest rowing haul in the modern era.