The Paris 2024 sailing regatta saw mixed fortunes for many favourites - some confirming their dominance, others crashing out as variable winds played havoc. There was a lot that was fresh and innovative at this year's Games - a gender balanced fleet, new foiling classes, and new formats - but a combination of difficult conditions and tight schedule that had little flex (only a reserve day at the end) meant sailing had few opportunities to really showcase all it can offer at the Games.
Nineteen different nations took home medals, the Netherlands topping the tables easily with two gold, two silver - the first time since 2000 that Great Britain has not scored the most silverware at a Games. The Brits had to make do with two - one gold, one bronze - which left them 6th on the medal league tables.
Brutal format
Things got off to a very hot and light beginning. Stevie Morrison, coach for Britain's Ellie Aldridge, observed: "There has been such a lack of pressure gradient anywhere so it has been a slow start. The element of expectation and anticipation is so great for the first-time Olympians who think this is going to be the biggest and best event of their career."
By the time the first series had been completed, conditions had still not stabilised: the medal race for the Men's 49er was started twice, before the wind disappeared mid-race. It was eventually rescheduled the following day, with the Spanish pairing of Diego Botin and Florian Trittel producing a gun-to-gun victory to clinch gold.
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Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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