Australia ruled the Qingdao Sailing Center Monday, with its sailors winning two golds.
Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page clinched gold in the men's double-handed 470 dinghies, while Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson claimed the top spot in the same boat for women.
Wilmot and Page had the medal wrapped up on overall points ahead of the final, making Monday's medal race seem more like a 28-minute victory lap. Said Page: "We didn't have to do what we did today. We were relaxed, we had a bit of fun, and it was all right.
Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page of Australia hold it together in the men's 470 class August 18 2008. They clinched gold. [Agencies] |
"That's the art of it, but it's a bit harder to do when there's high pressure."
Britain's Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield were pleased with second place after their weak start in the preliminary series. He said: "It's been really stressful. It's a long event, which I'm glad we got it over, and got a silver, which looked a long, long way off."
The Australian women also had a virtually unassailable 18-point lead after the 10-race series leading into the medal race, which counts double.
They finished ninth out of the 10-boat field that made it to the finals, good enough to secure the gold.
"When we crossed the line, we were screaming and crying and shouting. The feeling has not sunk in yet," said Rechichi, 22. "This is our first Olympic campaign. I don't think we've even felt we could win an Olympic medal."
Fernanda Oliveira and Isabel Swan are very excited to claim Brazil's first medal in sailing in the Bejing Games. [Agencies] |
The Australian victories also cement the status of head coach Victor Kovalenko, who has coached teams to medals in both the men's and women's 470 events at the 1996, 2000 and 2008 Games.
Because of the light summer winds in Qingdao, the sailing venue about 700km southeast of Beijing, many of the sailors had to cut down their weight to gain an edge.
Now, they say, it's time for a feast. "We're going to have a buffet with lots of food. We plan on getting fat," joked Page.
Medal races in the men's Laser and the Laser Radial for women are slated for today.
American favorite Anna Tunnicliffe leads overall after nine Laser Radial races, seven points ahead of Lithuanian Gintare Volungeviciute and 11 points ahead of China's Xu Lijia.
Britain's Paul Goodison seemed all but assured of a medal, with an 18-point lead.
Agencies