OLYMPICS UPDATE: Percy and Simpson ready for their Super Sunday gold bid

Guaranteed medallists Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are in pole position to reclaim their Olympic sailing crown on Sunday afternoon.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Aug 2012, 00:12 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 18:53 BST

Knowing that they already have a minimum of a bronze sewn up, Percy and Simpson go into their final double points’ showdown race with an eight-point advantage over nearest rivals, Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA), and 12 points ahead of Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen (SWE), who sit third overall.

If the British Star boys do claim gold it will be Emsworth’s Iain Percy’s third, the 36-year-old having won his first Olympic title in the Finn class at Sydney 2000. Ben Ainslie is the only Brit to have achieved the same feat of three Olympic sailing golds to date. It would be Simpson’s second gold having won in the Star with Percy in Beijing.

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With every point worth two in the medal race, fourth place or better tomorrow will guarantee the Brits gold. Meanwhile the Swedes, as well as the Brazilians, can also still win gold.

RYA Olympic Manager, Stephen Park, said: “Iain and Bart have got a few points cushion so long as they are in touch with the Swedes and particular the Brazilians, even if they are behind, they will win the gold. They have quietly gone about their business, part of that is due to the media wanting to focus on the battle in the Finn class, but if Iain wins, which I’m sure he will, it will be his third gold medal.

“That immediately puts him into an elite group of athletes across all sports. To win three gold medals across three Games is a fantastic achievement in terms of longevity of performance at the very top end of your sport.

“Andrew will also become a double Olympic gold medallist if they can convert on Sunday. We must remember with all the media interest around Ben [Ainslie], that these guys aren’t forgotten. They are amongst the best sailors in the world and will be amongst the most decorated sailors in the World if they win gold on Sunday.”

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If Percy and Simpson finish seventh they are vulnerable to both Brazil and Sweden. In that circumstance Brazil would need to be third or better to claim gold while Sweden would have to win the race.

The Star medal race is scheduled for 1pm on the spectator Nothe course.

Follow the British Sailing Team at London 2012 at www.rya.org.uk/london2012

Related topics:Andrew Simpson