Olympic Sailing Medals - USA Gold in Laser Radial

Qingdao, China - Most if not all of the US sailing team rushed out to the breakwater at the 2008 Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao today, to see their teammate Anna Tunnicliffe of Plantation, Florida compete in the Laser Radials for a gold medal. The Olympic crowds were treated to an incredible show as Tunnicliffe first looked out of the running for the medal, then in a dramatic comeback, fought to claim the 2008 Laser Radial (Women's One Person Dinghy) Gold Medal for the USA.

A sloppy start caused four boats to go back for a penalty in the medal race, including the gold medal favorite Anna Tunnicliffe. This started the race for Anna at the back of the pack, where she had to fight for every inch from the very beginning. “I had a really bad start. It was very hard to focus when my competitors were gaining points on me,” explained Tunnicliffe. Meanwhile Lijia Xu of China took the opportunity to snag an early lead, and the name of the host country's best shot for the podium began to ring out from the shore in a chant.

The crowds then watched Anna overtake one boat at a time, as she slowly worked toward the head of the pack. On leg one Tunnicliffe's chances for a gold medal, or even a silver, looked in serious jeopardy, when Gintare Volungeviciute from Lithuania beat her around the first mark, and into the gold medal lead. Volungeviciute was still ahead of Tunnicliffe by 57 seconds at the second mark, where the intensity on Anna's face was evident, even through the thick Qingdao haze. As the seas got lumpy (mostly from the many spectator boats on the course), the Laser Radial fleet spread out searching for clean air.

Anna took a big gamble in the third leg, tacking to the left of the course, away from the leaders. It could have gone either way for Tunnicliffe: Either lose her wind, and any hopes for gold, or go for glory. The crowd gasped as Anna's gamble paid off, and a puff of wind, which looked like it was sent just for her, enabled the US sailor to accelerate, and quickly climb to the head of the fleet. “I saw a puff on the left and said, ‘Well, here it goes.’ It was a risk, but it was a risk worth taking," said Tunnicliffe, a true gambler at heart.

There was just one more boat to pass for Anna on the last leg if she wanted that gold, and one could hear the spectators onshore collectively holding their breaths. Lithuania passed the finish line first, as all eyes remained on Tunnicliffe and Sarah Blanck (AUS), whom Anna had to pass in order to secure the gold. They sailed neck and neck for a moment, and then, right before the finish line, Anna slipped past Sarah, and you could hear the crowd screaming "ANNA, ANNA, ANNA" from shore as the sailor from the USA crossed the line, and won Olympic Gold.

Tunnicliffe was overjoyed. “This is phenomenal. It is absolutely unbelievable. This is my first Olympics and first medal. I’ve been wanting this for many years. It’s a dream come true,” she said. Regarding the consistency that earned her a gold medal, she said: ”You know in the end consistency will pay, but when they were dropping scores and passing me in the middle of the regatta that was stressful. But my coaches kept telling me it was going to pay off in the end.”

Tunnicliffe's coach, Luther Carpenter, had the highest of praise for his pet pupil: “Anna is your dream athlete. She’s a hard worker, in amazing shape, very open to coaching, completely driven and she clearly sees the path to winning.”

Laser Radial Class - Women - Olympic Overall Results

1 USA - Anna Tunnicliffe (37 Points)

2 Lithuania - Gintare Volungeviciute (42 Points)

3 China - Lijia Xu (50 Points)

4 AUS Sarah Blanck 62

5 FRA Sarah Steyaert 77

6 SUI Nathalie Brugger 90

7 NZL Jo Aleh 90

8 BEL Evi Van Acker 91

9 POL Katarzyna Szotynska 109

10 GBR Penny Clark 112

- K. Hampton for YachtPals.com

READ MORE ABOUT THE LASER CLASS SAILBOAT, OR SAILING AT THE Olympics:

• Olympics (all news, photos, boat information, and blogs about sailing at the Olympics)
• Interview with Sarah Mergenthaller of the US Olympic Sailing Team
• Olympic Sailing 2008 - Laser and Laser Radial Sailboats
• Sailors in the Spotlight - 2008 Olympic Sailing Teams
• Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics - US Olympic Sailing Team
• Sailing at the 2008 Olympics - Laser and Laser Radial Results
• Sailing at the Olympics - Finn Race Results
• Sailing at the Olympics - 49er Race Results
• Sailing at the Olympics - Yngling Race Results
• Sailing at the 2008 Olympics - Tornado Race Results
• Sailing at the 2008 Olympics - Star Class Race Results
• Olympic Sailing Medals Finn Class - Ainslie, Railey, Florent
• Olympic Sailing Medals - 49ers Can't Find Gold
• Olympic Sailing Yngling Medals - Great Britain takes the Gold
• Olympic Medals 470 - Aussie, Aussie!

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-- Sailing at the 2008 Olympics - Quick Look at Olympic Sailing Classes --

Multihull Sailboat = Tornado
Skiff Doublehanded Open Sailboat = 49er
Women's Windsurfer = RS:X
Women's One Person Sailing Dinghy = Laser Radial
Women's Two Person Sailing Dinghy = 470
Women's Keelboat = Yngling
Men's Windsurfer = RS:X
Men's One Person Sailing Dinghy = Laser
Men's One Person Sailing Dinghy = FINN
Men's Two Person Sailing Dinghy = 470
Men's Keelboat = Star