Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre are history makers.
Mills came to Tokyo already a legend in Olympic sailing, but will leave as the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time.
On the waters of Sagami Bay, Mills and McIntyre stormed to gold today to cap off a dominant week at Tokyo 2020.
Now with two golds and a silver to her name, Mills’ place in sailing’s history books is cemented for all time.
For McIntyre, it’s not just about winning gold, or even claiming the title of the last ever women’s 470 Olympic champion.
She wasn’t born when her dad Mike snatched gold in the Star class at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, but she’s grown up all too aware of the family legacy.
With that medal hanging on the wall outside of her childhood bedroom, McIntyre’s lifelong dream was to have one of her own. Today that dream came true.
The pair stayed calm in the medal race and did what they needed to do. They finished fifth, just behind their Polish rivals and ahead of the French team.
They were however made to sweat as a protest by the French held up the celebrations. But quickly the jury dismissed the protest and the gold medal was confirmed.
Mills and McIntyre’s triumph caps off a stellar week for Team GB’s sailors, and secures Britain’s place as top sailing nation for the fifth time in six Games.
For Luke Patience and Chris Grube, the dream of an Olympic medal came to an end, their valiant fight for a podium place in the men’s 470 ending in fifth.
They fought all regatta long, exemplified by their resolve on the very first day when their mast broke and they had to return to shore between races to fix it.
Against all odds, Tokyo 2020 has been incredible – the most successful Olympics for our sailors since Beijing 2008.
From Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell’s first British 49er gold medal, through Giles Scott’s Finn class Olympic title defence, to John Gimson and Anna Burnet’s silver in the Nacra 17 and Emma Wilson’s bronze in the women’s windsurfing, the performances in Enoshima have been nothing short of outstanding. World class. World-beating.
British sailing is in a good place, Scott told reporters moments after coming ashore from that historic victory.
Indeed it is, Giles. Indeed it is.
