Rio Olympics – Thompson’s silver Laser lining at midway point

by RYA on 11 Aug 2016 Double World Champion Thompson has endured a frustrating start to his regatta and went into racing today lying in 12th position after four races. But clearly reveling in a move for the Lasers on to the Copacabana ocean course outside of Guanabara Bay, the 30-year-old was second in the day’s first race before winning the second.

The Lasers now have a rest day tomorrow and Thompson admits it was important he made his move on the medal positions as the midway point of the regatta passed.

He said: “The biggest thing for me was just trying to knock in two decent results. I have been there and thereabouts in every race but today I have managed to show what I can do.

“It was nice to get out there, get some decent breeze and some good waves and Rio really delivered today, it was a fantastic conditions and thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve always favoured strong winds and big waves, I just enjoy sailing in that stuff. It is a physical battle and good fun downwind.

“We’ve had a lot of days like that in training. I’ve spent a lot of time out here and have seen those conditions a few times but I really wasn’t expecting to see them at this time of year so it was really nice that Rio turned it on for us.”

Whereas Thompson’s event to date has seen him struggle to get make an impact at the front of the fleet, today he was never outside of the top six at the first mark as the Lasers took full advantage of the welcome 20+ knots of breeze that greeted them.

In the day’s opening race he rounded the first mark in fourth before progressing up to second, while, after a short postponement ahead of race two, he moved up from sixth to hit the front of the fleet at the fourth mark and take line honours.

Only the current leader, Tonci Stipanovic (CRO), is carrying a lower discard than Thompson within the Laser top 10 meaning there is no room for error for anyone. Stipanovic leads with 26 points, with Thompson on 35 and Rutger Van Schaardenburg (NED) occupying bronze medal position on 37.

Thompson is now looking forward to a day’s recovery before resuming his medal charge on Friday.

He added: “Today has put me in better shape now. I have really struggled to get round the windward mark in a decent position in the previous four races, and ended up just battling away in every race, so it’s been really tough.

“To get round in a solid position today then pull through the fleet has just been so much more enjoyable and I think if I can keep plugging away and doing that we will be in good shape.”

The Laser class is scheduled to contest an 11 race series, with two races per day on 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 August before the final one off medal race on Monday 15 August.