US wins gold in women's eight at rowing regatta

The United States held off Canada to win a second straight Olympic gold in the women's eight on Thursday, maintaining its six-year dominance of the high-profile event.

The US won in a time of 6 minutes, 10.59 seconds. Canada finished a half length behind in second and the Netherlands took the bronze to close the second day of finals at Dorney Lake.

The US hasn't lost a competitive race in the eight since winning the world title here in 2006 but Canada had closed the gap over the past 12 months, even qualifying for the final in a faster time in the heats.

The Americans successfully defended the title they won in the Beijing Games in 2008. The country's only previous Olympic gold in the discipline came at Los Angeles in 1984.