New Zealand's gold medallists Brooke Francis (R) and Lucy Spoors celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony after the women's double sculls final rowing competition Photo: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
For the people gathered at the Canterbury Rowing Club last night, the gold medal in the women's double sculls was something personal.
Many know golden sculler Lucy Spoors who is a member of the Club.
This was club member Libby's reaction to the gold medal for Spoors and team-mate Brooke Francis: "They're the greatest team. They were so deserving. We are backing them all the way. It was such a great race to watch."
It was indeed. It was an intensely fought race with Spoors and Francis holding off the two-time world champion Romania and Great Britain.
Lucy Spoors' sister Phoebe then took out bronze along with Davina Waddy and sisters Kerri Williams and Jackie Gowler in the women's fours.
NZ rowers in the medals at Paris Olympics
Michael Petherick is the Vice President of the club and former coach of Phoebe and Davina when they attended Christchurch Girls' High School.
He said it was incredible to see them on the big screen.
"I guess its maybe a bit more personal for me.
"It's very exciting and I am really proud of them," he said.
"Naturally I like to think I helped them on their journey in some way. Although they have come such a long way since then."
Oliver was also a club member and says watching the club athletes was unreal.
"These are actually people you know day-to-day. It's so crazy.
"Normally they are just idols up on some random pedestal. But I actually know some of these guys."