SAILING NEWS
Beijing briefing
Day of double delight
Gritty Goodison g
PICTURE: Richard Langdon / R
Paul p
Y
A
take L
Beijingbriefing
AUL Goodison has won Laser class gold at the
P
2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Qingdao on
Tuesday August 19, Britain’s third sailing gold
of the Games and fourth medal in total for the
sport.
Four-time European champion Goodison, who fin-
ished fourth on his Olympic debut at Athens 2004, lead
the fleet by 18 points going into the day’s double points
medal race meaning as long as the Brit did not finish
10th and last in the race and second-placed Swede
Rasmus Myrgren win it, the Olympic crown would be
Goodison’s.
Goodison made no mistake in sealing the biggest
prize of them all in light winds, sailing the Swede to the
back of the fleet at the start and pinning him there
throughout the race, stopping Myrgren have any chance
INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Britain’s most decorated Olympic sailor of all time Ben
of reaching the front and threatening gold.
Ainslie with his gold medal, above, and in Olympic action, below
Goodison finished the race in ninth and Myrgren 10th
for Goodison to be crowned Olympic champion with 63
points, eight points ahead of silver medallist Vasilij
Zbogar (SLO) with Italian Diego Romero taking bronze.
Myrgren finished sixth overall.
Goodison said: “It’s just absolutely amazing, it might
not have been the best way to do it but with the condi-
tions being so tricky, it was the best way of making sure
of gold.
PICTURE:Getty Images
“It’s been a testing week but I hung in there and
delivered yesterday, which made it a bit easier today.
“Athens was really hard and this is for everyone who
has been through it all with me. I’m so pleased my mum
could be here with me and also for my dad who was
watching back home on the television.
“You come to every Olympic Games trying to do
your best and fortunately this time I’m on top of the
table. It just feels unbelievable and it’s going to take a
while to sink in, it’s just amazing. With London 2012
just around the corner, it would be an amazing opportu-
nity to represent Great Britain at an Olympic Games in
Britain.”
Sailing Team Manager Stephen Park was delighted
for Goodison. “The Laser fleet is so competitive right
now, so this medal is fantastic and really has been a long
time coming for Paul.
“Having been training partner for the Sydney Games,
and then finishing fourth in Athens, for Paul to finally
get an Olympic medal – and particularly a gold one – is
their disappointing Olympic campaign in
pennantFROM PREVIOUS PAGE
just fantastic.
ninth overall, having finished third in the
wake.” Of the Yngling success Carr added:
“I’m also really pleased for Paul’s coach, Chris
first Sunday’s race, as Danish duo Jonas
“The ability to perform under intense pressure
Gowers – he’s been a huge help, not only to Paul but to
Warrer and Martin Kirketerp Ibsen seemed to
is the mark of true champions. This crew dug
the whole of the rest of the team over a number of years,
clinch gold despite having had to borrow
deep and did the business when it counted.
so I’m delighted for him that he’s now a gold-medal
the Croatian boat after their mast broke
What a race, what a result!”
winning coach.”
before the pre-start, but were subsequently
Meanwhile in a thrilling 49er medal
● In the Laser Radial medal race on Tuesday, Penny
protested by the race committee for using the
race, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes finished
Clark finished seventh to claim 10th overall at her first
wrong gear.
Olympic Games. The class was won by American Anna
Tunnicliffe.
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