PRAISE HEAPED ON GB ATHLETES

 

British Sailing Team boss Mark Robinson has spoken of his pride for the 14 Team GB sailors following their return home from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Robinson praised the way the athletes “fought for every point” during a challenging two weeks in Marseille which saw the team come home with one gold and one bronze.

The medal tally saw Britain finish sixth overall in the sailing competition; The Netherlands claimed the top spot with two gold and two bronze.

It was a roller-coaster regatta for Team GB’s sailors, from the highs of Ellie Aldridge’s historic women’s kite gold medal and Emma Wilson’s second bronze to the lows of Micky Beckett, John Gimson and Anna Burnet cruelly missing out on medals they seemed set to win.

Painfully light winds beset the Olympic sailing competition, curtailing racing on most days and only allowing for three of the ten classes to complete their scheduled races.

Robinson said that despite the ups and downs, Team GB’s sailors had shown themselves to be true professionals on and off the water.

“Following the close of what has been an unprecedented regatta in Marseille we are proud of our team who fought for every point right up until the end,” Robinson said. 

“As we mark two unique moments in history – the first British woman to win back-to-back windsurfing medals in Emma Wilson, and the first ever kite foiling Olympic Champion in Ellie Aldridge – we feel immensely confident of the future.

“On and away from the water our sailors have conducted themselves admirably, supporting their teammates throughout the event, and they are amazing role models for Team GB and our sport.”

Britain remains the most successful Olympic sailing nation of all time, and work has already begun to prepare for LA 2028 so as to return the team to the top of the medal table.

“For us, like after every Olympics, there will be a period of reflection,” Robinson added. 

“There’s no doubt the racing and weather conditions in Marseille have proved incredibly challenging. 

“While we leave with two medals, it hasn’t been the overall team performance we’d have hoped for.

“But we will recognise what worked well and what didn’t so that we can adapt and grow from these learnings moving forward to enable us to continue our reign as the most decorated Olympic sailing team in history.”