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GB win silver in men's sailing 470 race
Olympics sailing: Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell win silver
GB sailors Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell had to settle for silver after falling short of their Australian rivals in the men's 470 medal race in Weymouth.
Luke Patience 470 sailor on winning Olympic silver“We're happy, happy boys. What a place, we're in paradise. It's so cool”
The British duo were already guaranteed at least a silver medal and went into the final race needing to beat the Australians with one boat between them to clinch gold.
The British led around the first mark, but Australia's Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page made ground downwind and stayed clear to clinch gold.
Argentina held onto third place to secure the bronze.
"To stand on an Olympic podium, it's not gold, but we're young boys and we'll be back," said helm Patience. "We're happy, happy boys. What a place. We're in paradise. It's so cool."
Bithell added: "We got the better of them at the start and just managed to sneak ahead, but unfortunately they sailed a fantastic race. They're worthy champions, but we're happy with second."
The GB crew kept close to the Australians in the pre-start and led the fleet off the line, rounding the top mark ahead of Croatia and Australia. At that point, gold was going to Britain, but Belcher and Page had better pace downwind and slipped past both boats to lead at the second mark.
Patience and Bithell tried to engage the Australians on the second upwind leg, to try to slow them and hope the chasing pack could affect their progress, but Croatia caught up and passed the Britons.
Australian record
- Following this result for Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page, London 2012 is now Australia's most successful Olympic sailing regatta
On the final downwind leg, the GB sailors were forced to do a penalty turn after they were deemed to have used illegal "pumping" to generate more speed, allowing Argentina to slide past.
"It's not gold, but there's plenty of time and we're coming back and we mean business next time," added Patience.
Following this result, London 2012 is now Australia's most successful Olympic sailing regatta. Their three golds beats the two golds, silver and bronze they won at Sydney in 2000.
"It's a special feeling," said 40-year-old Page, who won gold with Nathan Wilmot at the Beijing Games in 2008.
"It's been a tough battle all week. Luke and Stuart brought their 'A' game, but to get over the line first was phenomenal. It's amazing for sailing to be delivering. To come away with three golds is all our dreams come true. Australian sailing is going from strength to strength."
Patience, 26, and Bithell, 25, teamed up in 2009 and shortly after finished runners-up at the World Championships in Denmark.
The Britons were also runners-up to Belcher and Page at the World Championships in Perth in December 2011.
Final Results
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Medal moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathew Belcher, Malcolm Page |
Australian Olympic Team
|
|
| 2 | Luke Patience, Stuart Bithell |
Team GB
|
|
| 3 | Lucas Calabrese, Juan De La Fuente |
Argentina
|
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Comment number 79.
DrCajetanCoelho11th August 2012 - 11:42
Congratulations to
Luke Patience
and Stuart Bithell.
Dr. Cajetan Coelho
Link to this (Comment number 79)
Comment number 78.
SeismicEvent11th August 2012 - 10:35
@74. In my experience the media don't accurately represent the Average Joe. I thought Kochie, and others, were idiots (you've got Kochie and we, for our sins, have Piers Morgan, Gary Lineker, etc) but without exception the Australians that I met (in 6 months I met a lot) were thoroughly pleasant and helpful. It's only sporting banter; this time we won, next time, who knows?
Link to this (Comment number 78)
Comment number 77.
tonep11th August 2012 - 8:21
67 more evidence of how Britain has to compensate for the loss of the Empire by belittling the former colonies :)
Former colonies? Damn cheek. Now,hush with that seditious talk , or I'll tell the Governor-General.
God save YOUR gracious queen, long live YOUR noble queen, God save YOUR Queen....
Link to this (Comment number 77)
Comment number 76.
Surely not11th August 2012 - 8:08
68
The thing the chokers from down under don't get is the English are an incredibly diverse range of people whose common thread is we admire and respect fair play.
We are not all simpering sycophants, neither have we a one eyed attitude to 'our' sports men and women, as have many, many aussies.
The aussies love to give it out, but as someone else noted, they really can't take it.
Link to this (Comment number 76)
Comment number 75.
bruce greig11th August 2012 - 7:17
people have travelled from all over the globe to watch and participate in the world's greatest sporting event.
the indian runner buoyed by the crowd(felt like an olympian) is this bad?
athletes shaking hands after the event.is this bad?
sailor in tears apologetically because he only came 2nd.
the only people who can judge effort are the ones in the mirror!!
NOW buckle up & belt up.
2 days to go!!
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Comments 5 of 79