Rio Olympics – Charline Picon wins gold in Women's Windsurfer
by Andy Rice - World Sailing on 14 Aug 2016
Charline relief - Women's Windsurfer (RS:X) - Rio Olympics World Sailing
Rio 2016 – Charline Picon (FRA) has won gold in the Women's Windsurfer (RS:X) after the most tense and exciting Medal Race ever seen in Olympic sailing.
Of the ten competitors in the double-points final, seven had a shot at gold. Picon started badly but moved through to second by the first mark. Meanwhile Peina Chen (CHN) had another gear downwind and shot up from sixth to second by the bottom of the first lap. China looked set to take the gold from France, but Picon held on in the light winds to the finish to secure the Olympic title, with Chen settling for silver. Lillian de Geus (NED) sailed an excellent Medal Race to cross the line in first place just in front of Picon, and had an anxious wait to see if she had done enough for bronze.
Stefaniya Elfutina (RUS) had a shocking start, being given a double penalty turn for infringing Bryony Shaw (GBR) at the start line. But the 19-year-old Russian rallied to seventh place and just edged out Lillian de Geus (NED) for the bronze.
Rs:X - Women - Overall results
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