SCHINIAS, Greece — Darcy Marquardt of Richmond, B.C., and Buffy Williams of St. Catharines, Ont., led early but faded in the final 500 metres and finished fourth in the Olympic women's pairs rowing final Saturday.

Marquardt and Williams, a new pairs combination coached by Al Morrow, produced their best row together after overcoming an interrupted training schedule because of an injury to Williams earlier this summer.

But it wasn't enough.

Georgeta Damian and Viorica Susanu of Romania won gold, and world champions Katherine Grainger and Cath Bishop of Britain were two seconds behind to take silver in ideally calm conditions. Yuliya Bichyk and Natallia Helakh of Belarus were left with bronze after being overtaken by the Brits in the dash to the finish.

Canada led after 500 metres but Romania took command before the 1,000-metre mark. Canada was clinging to second place after 1,500 metres and couldn't match the finishing push of the other crews.

"You can't be disappointed with what we did because that was our best," Williams said.

"You always want a medal . . . but we put our best effort forth. What more can you ask for," she added.

Said Marquardt: "We gave it our all."

Marquardt, 25, and Williams, 27, were members of the Canadian women's eight that won bronze at the 2003 world championships. Williams was the stroke of the women's eight that won Olympic bronze in 2000.

Williams' husband, Barney Williams is a member of the Canadian men's fours final. She's the daughter of former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Claire Alexander