Word from Paris
Emma Wilson is hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place - after guaranteeing herself a second Olympic medal.
Wilson, who took bronze in the windsurfing class in Tokyo, completed a stunning series in the replacement IQFoil event in Marseilles Marina.
The Nottingham star, who had dominated throughout the four days of racing, ended with eight wins, two second places and three thirds in a truncated programme cut from the scheduled 20 heats to 14.
It left Wilson top on 18 points, 31 clear of the field and ensured she goes straight through to the three boat medal race this afternoon, with nine sailors including Israeli rival Sharon Kantor battling to join her earlier in the day.
But a similar exhibition at last year’s world championships ended with disappointment as Kantor snatched gold in the one-off decider.
Wilson admitted: “It was so hard. I won 15 out of the 20 races and then I came second in the final race and you get a silver medal. That was definitely mentally the lowest point I was at in the winter.
“Now I’ve guaranteed myself an Olympic medal that’s pretty cool. After that, it's a bit of luck. But the harder you work, the luckier you get and I’ve worked so hard.”
Sam Sills will get the chance to sail for a medal today as well after finishing eighth in his IQFoil field, enough to earn a slot in the seven-man quarter-finals, where only the top two progress.
The shifting and inconsistent winds caused problems all day, with the medal race in the men’s skiff abandoned after four of the five marks. It will be re-run today.