Qingdao--The Sailing City 25

Ü9]abaf_ÜFdqeha[ÜJYadaf_ÜI]_YllY 9]abaf_ Fdqeeha[ÜJYadaf__ÜI]_YllY 20 MONDAY AUGUST 18, 2008 Britain’s Yngling team members Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (from left to right) sail back to the Olympic Sailing Center after winning the gold medal during the Yngling three-women keelboat sailing competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Qingdao yesterday. Ju Chenghao British Yngling trio grabs fi rst gold in Qingdao quite Great Britain: big wind They have worked three years said Song. International sailing federa- Netherlands, Greece fi nish 2nd and big rain. We were quite for this medal.” tion spokesman David Knap- prepared,” she added. It has been a The bronze medal was taken by Danes wait for gold ruling man says the race measure- and 3nd; Chinese women in 9th “It has been a fantastic fantastic journey. It Sofi a Bekatorou, Sofi a Papadopou- The Danish team of Jason ment committee is protesting journey. It is so exciting with a is so exciting with lou and Virginia Kravarioti from Warrer and Martin Kirketerp the fi nish, saying the two could QINGDAO: British Yngling posure and first crossed the little relief and, of course, loads Greece with 48 points after their Ibsen is being listed as the win- not start in another country’s trio Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb finishing line seven seconds of joy,” said Webb. a little relief and, of third fi nish in the medal race. ner of the 49er skiff Olympic boat. He said protests were and Pippa Wilson snatched the ahead of Germany and a minute Ayton and Webb won gold course, loads of joy. “We made our gain today sailing class, but race offi cials also under consideration that fi rst gold medal at the Olympic in front of the Dutch. in 2004 Athens with Shirley on the fi rst downwind. We feel say they cannot confirm the demand the annulment of the sailing regatta yesterday. The British Yngling women Robertson; they are two-time SARAH WEBB great for the 10 million Greeks medal because they are han- race because it started after a 4: The defending Yngling cham- ended up on top of the podium world champions and they British Yngling team member back home. It’s wonderful,” said dling three protests against 30 pm deadline set in Olympic pion led the keelboat class from with 24 points overall, pocketing won the Olympic test event in Bekatorou. the result. racing rules. the beginning of the medal race the fi rst gold medal in Qingdao. Qingdao last year. Chinese Yngling team mem- The mast on the Danes’ If the Danes are disqualifi ed to round the windward mark “When we crossed the line, The silver medal went to medal. But it’s a pity that we bers Song Xiaqun, Yu Yanli and boat broke shortly before the after Sunday’s race, Spain’s Iker fi rst, a second ahead of rest of the three of us just looked at one Mandy Mulder, Annemieke didn’t beat GBR,” said Bes. Li Xiaoni also sailed their best start of the 49er medal race, Martinez and Xabier Fernan- the fl eet, despite heavy rain on another. I can’t describe the feel- Bes and Merel Witteveen from Their coach Thanasis Piniaris performance today, placing 9th and they rushed back to port dez, winners of the medal race, the sea. ing, because you just know that the Netherlands with 33 points said, “We’re going to Shangri-la overall with 65 points. and borrowed a skiff from the will retain the title they won in Although they were over- you’re the best in the whole world overall, fi nishing fi fth in the tonight to eat the chocolate “This is my first and last Croatian team, which failed to Athens fours years ago. taken by Germany at the third at what you do,” said Ayton. medal race though. fondue. They were not allowed Olympics. If I had a chance, I make the fi eld of 10 boats for the mark, they kept their com- “The conditions today were “This is my first Olympic to eat it before they got a medal. would do this all over again,” 49er medal race. Xinhua/Agencies Defending champ Ainslie still reigns in Finn By Huang Yanhong mense feeling of achievement,” legendary Olympic Finn class. and Susan, who have given me world No 1. he said. Since 2004 Athens, he has endless time and support over “Anything but gold for him His fourth appearance at the been unbeaten in the Finn. the years". would be a catastrophe. He is a QINGDAO: The Beijing Olym- Olympic Games has made him He began sailing at the Roddy skippered the yacht very complete sailor and makes pics has cemented Ben Ainslie’s the biggest name in Qingdao age of 8 with his family in Second Life in the fi rst Whit- very few mistakes. He is hard status as one of Britain’s great- waters. Restronguet, Cornwall, the bread Round the World Race of to beat.” est Olympians. He also has won eight World coastal county in southwestern 1973-74. The younger Ainslie Ainslie credited his sailing After a gold in the Finn class and European Championships, England. has engraved his mother’s heritage with his string of in Athens, the 31-year-old was crowned International What started as a hobby name “Susan” on each of his victories. veteran repeated his golden Sailing Federation World quickly turned into a way of boats to give him good luck. “I guess I’m fortunate in that achievement yesterday in the Sailor of the Year in 1998 and life. By the age of 16 Ainslie was Yet in the fi rst sailing race I have now been racing boats for same class. He raced to a silver 2002 and was a four-time Brit- Laser Radial world champion. of the 2008 Olympics, he didn’t 20 years, pretty much continu- in the Laser class in Atlanta in ish Yachtsman of the Year. He In September 2007, the UK’s perform well, ranking only ally, yet I am still really moti- 1996 at age 19 and grabbed also won the championships campaign for the America’s Cup 10th. vated to train hard, learn and gold in that class in Sydney in both the 2006 and 2007 named Ainslie skipper for races “My greatest strength is that improve,” said the 31-year-old in 2000. International Sailing Regattas likely to take place in 2009 and I never give up,” he said. champion. “The Olympics is a chance in Qingdao. 2011. “During the competition he is “I feel that I still have a long for sailing to represent itself Ainslie holds the world re- Ainslie said the people most of course the main contender," way to go and I’m still very on a global scale and to win a cord for the number of wins infl uential in his sailing suc- said Jonas Hoegh-Christensen passionate about winning,” gold medal gives you an im- in the long-established and cess are his parents, “Roddy from Denmark, who is ranked he said. Friends, family the biggest fans By Guo Xin and Zhang Ying men’s 470-class races every Giulia Conti and Giovanna Mi- day, and Helen Geronti from col fi nished seventh in the last Greece sat at the breakwater race before the medal race. QINGDAO: As it heads into waving a fl ag and looking to ĀI prayed for fi ne weather more medal races, the Olym- the sea where her boyfriend and brisk winds when Giulia pic Sailing Regatta is draw- Andreas Papadopoulos was started her competition in Qin- ing even wider attention with competing. The Greek team gdao,” her mother said. spectators lining the sailing placed 12th and didn’t make it The father declined to venue. The keenest are prob- to the medal race. reveal his thoughts. “I have ably families and friends of Supporting Andreas was already had my answer in my athletes. Helen’s main purpose in Qin- mind. Now I am just waiting Cynthia Goodison arrived gdao. for the right time to say it,” on the spectator breakwater ĀI didn’t think that he must he said. half an hour before the first win a medal. I just hoped he Among all the cheering sec- round of the men’s Laser- can give it his best,” she said. tions, perhaps China’s sailor class race started on August “Of course a medal would be in Star-class Wang He boasts 12. much better.” the largest. With his mother She was there to cheer her Accompanying Helen are her as the cheerleader, more than son Paul Goodison, a medal father and Andreas’ parents. 60 relatives and friends stood favorite from the United The Papadopouloses are a on the bank, yelling encour- Kingdom. sailing family — all three sons agement. He won both Olympic test love sailing. Their father Tha- ĀHe did not perform well, but events in Qingdao in 2006 nassis is also a sailor. he participated in the Olympics and 2007. Yet after the first ĀIt is in our blood,” Thanas- for China so I still think he is a day of Olympic racing he was sis said proudly. hero," said Wang’s mother. far below expectations — he He taught Andreas when he ranked 15th. was a child. But Mrs. Goodison had confi - “But now, all I can do is This special supple- dence in her son. “I am sure he to give him full support and ment is co-published will soon catch up and perform cheer him,” Thanassis told by the Information well,” she said.

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