KEY POINTS:
David Leggat and Eugene Bingham assess the medal contenders ahead of a massive day for New Zealand in Beijing.
On the morning of the greatest day in New Zealand sporting history, Peter Snell and Murray Halberg were in the back seat of a taxi with their
coach, the inspirational Arthur Lydiard.
Snell was in the middle, squeezed between Halberg and Lydiard as they made their way towards Rome's Olympic stadium on September 22, 1960.
Both runners were nervous as hell: Snell had surprised everyone by even making the 800m final; Halberg was at his second Olympics, desperate to avoid the disappointment he felt after the 1500m final in Melbourne four years earlier.
Lydiard leaned across Snell and said, "You know, Murray, Peter will be an Olympic champion before you will."
Those simple words exemplified Lydiard's gift for inspiring his athletes _ he had complete faith both men would become Olympic champions that day.
Within an hour, Snell had stunned his opponents by stealing the 800m gold in record time and Halberg had run away from the field to emphatically seize the 5000m crown.
For 48 years, those 60 minutes have stood as New Zealand's most magical sporting moment. Tomorrow, five rowing crews, at least one cyclist and a shot putter in Beijing have the chance to create an equally glorious chapter, albeit one stretched out over six hours.
At 7.50pm (NZ time), Mahe Drysdale will strive to add an Olympic gold to his three world championship single sculls titles, followed at 20-minute intervals by women's pair Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles, men's pair George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle, women's double scullers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell and the men's double scull of Rob Waddell and Nathan Cohen, who start at 9.10pm.
Cyclist Greg Henderson will ride for gold in the points race at the Laoshan Velodrome, where, if he qualifies overnight, Hayden Roulston may also be competing for a medal, in the individual pursuit. To (hopefully) cap off the night, a 23-year-old South Auckland shot putter, Valerie Vili, will give everything she has got to become New Zealand's first Olympic track and field champion in 32 years.
Apart from Snell and Halberg's golden hour, New Zealand has won two Olympic golds in a single day three other times: Snell in the 1500m, and Flying Dutchman sailors Helmer Pedersen and Earle Wells, on October 21, 1964; Ian Ferguson in the K1 500m and Ferguson and Paul MacDonald in the K2 500m, on August 10, 1984; and Alan Thompson, K1 1000m, and Ferguson, MacDonald, Thompson and Grant Bramwell in the K4 1000m, on August 11, 1984.
For months, today, August 16 has been hyped as Super Saturday. Destiny, unfortunately, does not always follow the script.
This week, there have been hints that the haul of gold, silver and bronze may not be as weighty as hoped for. Drysdale has been sick and other crews, including former comeback king Waddell and his partner Cohen, were wobbly.
Henderson's race is a lottery, thoughhe has the experience and wits to stack the odds his way. Vili has proven her ability to throw her best at major meetings _ her final-round effort at last year's world championships was evidence of her mettle under pressure _ but a line-up of Belarusians are determined to hear their anthem played.
What would the late Arthur Lydiard have said? I'm guessing he would be telling each of the athletes to just concentrate on the task ahead of them and not get caught up in the excitement.
Above all, they should believe in themselves. Just like Snell and Halberg in the back of that taxi all those years ago.
DAVID LEGGAT AND EUGENE BINGHAM ASSESS THE MEDAL CONTENDERS
VALERIE VILI
(Athletics, shot put) The kid from South Auckland who made good. Pocketed the world title last year, and will need to be at the top of her game to hold off expected strong challenges from two Belarusians.
Prospects: Gold within reach if she stands up to the pressure of the night.
MAHE DRYSDALE
(Rowing, single scull) The three-time world champion has been battling illness all week. He just scraped into the final in finishing third by a whisker in the semifinals. Provided the bug is gone, the tough Aucklander is a likely favourite for gold _ even from lane six _ with Czech Republic sculler Ondrej Synek his toughest rival.
Prospects: Can win gold.
GEORGE BRIDGEWATER AND NATHAN TWADDLE
(Rowing, coxless pair) World champions in 2005, silver medallists in the past two years, the combination is formidable. Their biggest obstacle will be Australians Drew Ginn and Duncan Free, who won the Athens gold in 2004 and have beaten the New Zealanders in the last two world finals.
Prospects: Titanic struggle, probable silver.
ROB WADDELL AND NATHAN COHEN
(Rowing, double scull) Came together only this year but have made rapid progress. Won two World Cup regattas in Lucerne and Poznan in June. Won their heat last weekend but had a tight squeeze in their semifinal, getting in by just .73s. They'll be in lane six today but have potential for gold in them.
Prospects: Have class to get gold.
CAROLINE AND GEORGINA EVERS-SWINDELL
(Rowing, double scull) Have bounced back from a poor European campaign with strong win in the heats to advance straight to the final. Have had a week to think about it, just as they did in Athens. China will be difficult, they'll duel side by side up the middle of the course.
Prospects: Tight, can win gold.
HAYDEN ROULSTON
(Cycling, 4000m individual pursuit, subject to qualifying last night) After fighting back from a career-threatening heart condition two years ago, Roulston is poised to improve on his fourth placing in this year's world champs. A steely competitor, he has shown winning form on the road in his Beijing buildup.
Prospects: Outside chance for bronze.
GREG HENDERSON
(Cycling, points race) Tough, experienced campaigner, former world champion and a bloke who doesn't let things faze him. Will be a marked man in an often rough-and-tumble event with rivals wary of the capabilities of the rider ranked fourth in the world.
Prospects: Must be a chance for bronze, provided the chips fall his way.
