London 2012 Laser champion Paul Goodison - painful end to his campaign

by Rob Kothe and the Sail-World team on 7 Aug 2012 Beijing 2008 Laser class Olympic Gold medallist Paul Goodison’s 2012 campaign was marred by a significant back injury but he still managed to reach the medal race in Weymouth. Here is what he said post race.

‘Today I went out there with the key that I needed to do the best I could to try and reward all the guys for patching me together all week and for all the support I have had over the last four years. Quite a lot of pain today. ‘

‘I gave it my all and to be leading round the first mark I felt finally things are starting to go my way and to get a penalty on the first run I thought maybe not my time and then to get back in the lead and then get another penalty in the second run it was I guess rather than getting angry and screaming and shouting I chuckled to myself. ‘

‘You have got to just laugh sometimes. Life is just too short. A little bit frustrated but I think I almost started to come to terms with it on day two when my back had gone and you are not firing on 100% there is no way you can keep up with the rest of the guys.’

‘While there are 38 sailors out there but there is probably ten or 15 amazing sailors out there and to have made the medal race and still got to sail today, I didn't think that was going to happen after day two so on that way I guess not too frustrated. I dealt with that earlier on in the week. ‘

Had you differences but can you say a few words about Tom and his victory?

‘For sure, he is a talented sailor and he is a great guy and fierce competition. You can’t beat those sorts of people. You can try and beat them and I know exactly how much pain he would have been feeling in the last four years after I finished fourth in Athens. It’s not nice and now I have a good feeling today and congratulations to him.’

Where to for you?

‘The first thing is I have got a scan next week on my back to see whether I need to have an operation or what the way forward is to fix that and once all that is fixed I have quite a lot of big boat regattas lined up over until the Christmas period and then I need to make a decision what I want to do over the next four years. ‘

Hang up the hikers?

‘I am not sure. I haven't really thought too much past today. It has not been in the plan. I don't really know what I am doing to be honest so we will see what happens.’