GOLD GOES TO ITALY'S WOMEN MISTRAL

by Isabelle Musy on 24 Sep 2000 The Women's Mistral final today was going to determine the gold medallist.
Was German Amelie Lux going to manage to keep her fragile one point lead over Italy's Alessandra Sensini, current World top ranked ?

It's been a tight battle out there on the water between the two girls as Sensini got a better start and rounded the first 4 marks ahead the rest of the fleet.
Lux managed then to take over her rival in the last beat and was leading at mark 5.
But the experience of Atlanta Silver medallist Sensini proved to be more efficient in what was a very close final gybing battle in the last run.

The Italian girl crossed the finish line 7 seconds ahead of the German girl.
Sensini and Lux end up this 11 races regatta with an even number of points but the gold medal goes to Sensini as she won fives races when Lux only won three.
However, the young German windsurfer has achieved an amazing job staying in the top of the point's score throughout the whole regatta when no one had really expected her to do so well.
Bronze goes to Kiwi Barbara Kendall, gold medallist in Barcelona and former Mistral World Champion.
Kendall sailed very consistently but never managed to come in the top two places.

The top three girls have had a big lead since day 1 and kept breaking away.

Disappointment for Australia's Jessica Crisp who was among the big favourites and who ends up in 5th overall.

RACE 11 RESULTS: 1.ITA, 2. GER, 3. NZL, 4. SUI, 5. FRA, 6. ESP, 7. CHN, 8. JPN, 9. THA, 10. AUS.

FINAL PROVISIONNAL RESULTS AFTER 11 RACES AND TWO DISCARDS: 1. ITA 15 PTS, 2. GER 15 PTS, 3. 19 NZL PTS. 4 USA 57 PTS, 5. AUS 59 PTS, 6. HKG 59 PTS, 7. CHN 60 PTS, 8. ESP 72 PTS, 9. FRA 75 PTS, 10. JPN 78 PTS.