Post by Taxigirl on Aug 20, 2004 10:20:44 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/sailing/3579964.stm
Shirley Robertson's Yngling crew won Britain's first gold medal of the Athens Games on Thursday.
Alongside Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton, the Scot took gold with a race to spare on a superb day for British sailing.
Ben Ainslie is guaranteed at least a silver medal after his fourth win in 10 races in the Finn class.
And Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield have also clinched at least silver in the men's 470, despite losing their lead after Thursday's two races.
Robertson, who triumphed in the Europe class in Sydney, sealed her second successive gold with another superb display on the waters of the Saronic Gulf.
"What about a triple?" exclaimed the 36-year-old from Dundee as she toasted her latest triumph.
"It's been hard all week and we have taken each race as it goes along and not made errors.
"Winning a day early certainly takes the pressure off a little bit.
"I'm overwhelmed that we've put it all together and made it happen.
"We are just so overjoyed. To win with a day to spare is amazing, we can't quite believe it."
The trio extended their lead to 10 points with a third in race nine.
And an eighth in race 10 means second-placed Denmark trail by nine points and cannot overtake the British crew, who will not need to compete in Saturday's final race.
"The legs are like jelly and all over the place," said Ayton, the 24-year-old from Weymouth. "It's been hard work but worth it.
"The conditions haven't been the strongest for us and we've really had to raise our game. It's unbelievable."
Webb, who just missed out in the last Olympics trials in the 470 class, joined Robertson and Ayton two years ago after an original crew member, Inga Leask, had to drop out.
"It means absolutely everything, awesome," she said. "It's not sunk in yet."
The trio were welcomed back to the jetty by Ainslie, who was the first to congratulate them before throwing Olympic debutant Ayton back into the water.
"It's fantastic, I'm so pleased for them," Ainslie said.
"Shirley getting two golds in two Olympics and in different boats as well is unbelievable.
"And for the two Sarahs coming into their first Olympics - the whole team's happy for them.
"Hopefully it can spark on the rest of us to get some more medals and more good results."
Shirley Robertson's Yngling crew won Britain's first gold medal of the Athens Games on Thursday.
Alongside Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton, the Scot took gold with a race to spare on a superb day for British sailing.
Ben Ainslie is guaranteed at least a silver medal after his fourth win in 10 races in the Finn class.
And Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield have also clinched at least silver in the men's 470, despite losing their lead after Thursday's two races.
Robertson, who triumphed in the Europe class in Sydney, sealed her second successive gold with another superb display on the waters of the Saronic Gulf.
"What about a triple?" exclaimed the 36-year-old from Dundee as she toasted her latest triumph.
"It's been hard all week and we have taken each race as it goes along and not made errors.
"Winning a day early certainly takes the pressure off a little bit.
"I'm overwhelmed that we've put it all together and made it happen.
"We are just so overjoyed. To win with a day to spare is amazing, we can't quite believe it."
The trio extended their lead to 10 points with a third in race nine.
And an eighth in race 10 means second-placed Denmark trail by nine points and cannot overtake the British crew, who will not need to compete in Saturday's final race.
"The legs are like jelly and all over the place," said Ayton, the 24-year-old from Weymouth. "It's been hard work but worth it.
"The conditions haven't been the strongest for us and we've really had to raise our game. It's unbelievable."
Webb, who just missed out in the last Olympics trials in the 470 class, joined Robertson and Ayton two years ago after an original crew member, Inga Leask, had to drop out.
"It means absolutely everything, awesome," she said. "It's not sunk in yet."
The trio were welcomed back to the jetty by Ainslie, who was the first to congratulate them before throwing Olympic debutant Ayton back into the water.
"It's fantastic, I'm so pleased for them," Ainslie said.
"Shirley getting two golds in two Olympics and in different boats as well is unbelievable.
"And for the two Sarahs coming into their first Olympics - the whole team's happy for them.
"Hopefully it can spark on the rest of us to get some more medals and more good results."