FINNS HAVE A DESERVED GOLDEN SMILE

by Ian Grant on 24 Sep 2000 Thomas Johanson (31) and Jyrki Jarvi (34) have a golden smile to go with their ‘Bronze Aussie” sun tan after the duo upset the hot shots to win the inaugural 49er skiff class Olympic Gold Medal.

Surprisingly this talented sailing team ranked 21st in the World were never given a chance before the title racing began.

But after 15 intensely competitive races they were the new Olympic champions winning the title quiet convincingly with a race to spare when they produced an unmatched speed and technique to win the 14th heat and place the Gold Medal beyond reach of their rivals.

Amazingly Johanson and Jarvi who only won one race outsailed the high standard fleet in the race for the major medal by sailing consistent to record a 2-7-2-12-3-4-10-6-2-4-7-2-3-1-2 while the higher profile title contenders including the Australian team of Chris Nicholson and Daniel Philips who won four races
‘burnt’ the valuable points with the string of 11-11-14-12-17 placings.

No one gave the Finns a chance before the title began and they failed to tell Johanson and Jarvi who believed in their own ability to produce a positive challenge which gradually eliminated the top medal contenders.

They sailed onto the course yesterday facing their most serious and demanding career challenge needing top order placings to repel the equally determined veteran American team of Jonathan and Charlie McKee.

By the end of the important races where they produced their best results of the regatta to gain a 1-2 allowed the popular Finn sailors to return to the Rushcutters Bay Olympic Marina with the Gold Medal win safely tucked in their sail bag.

Interest in today’s final will involve the battle for the minor medals between crews from the United States, Britain, Spain, Germany and Australia.

PROGRESSIVE POINTS (Provisional): FIN (43) Gold Medal 1, USA (52) 2, GBR (56) 3, ESP (65) 4, GER (69) 5, AUS (70) 6, NZL (76) 7, POR (81) 8, DEN (92) 9, UKR (99) 10.