COMEBACK KID

John Gimson has been trying for Olympic selection for 15 years. Finally it’s his time in the spotlight, writes ROB PEAKE

- ROB PEAKE

John Gimson has been the nearly man of British Olympic sailing for longer than he cares to remember. It was back in 2005 that he began a rollercoaster journey in various classes that has seen him overcome disappointment and bad luck to finally win Olympic selection in the Nacra 17 this summer. After so many near misses, what will be going through his mind on the start line of his first Olympic race in Enoshima?

“Business as usual,” replies Gimson without missing a beat. “People deal with it in different ways, but it is just another sailing regatta. Having said that, I have been tuning partner at two other Olympics, I have learned a lot over the last few years and we’ve had a long trials process. We are putting everything into these Games. We’re very excited, but we’re going there to medal.”

It was a nail-biting selection process for the sole British Nacra 17 spot at Tokyo, with Nicola Boniface and Ben Saxton, who competed at Rio, narrowly losing out. But four years ago it was Gimson who was the one left at home. “It was actually really motivating,” he says. “I thought I’ve just got to put together something better for the next cycle and correct some things I did badly last time.”