By Alexander Smith
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Britain’s Ellie Aldridge won Olympic kiteboarding’s first ever gold on Thursday, with France’s Lauriane Nolot securing silver and Annelous Lammerts of the Netherlands the women’s bronze.
Daniela Moroz of the United States was fourth in the first-to-three final, with winds holding up for the race, during which the kiteboarders hit speeds of more than 30 knots.
“It all came down to the day and I’m really happy that I managed to hold it all together and win two races,” Aldridge said after her British teammates had thrown her into the sea in celebration back on the beach.
Aldridge had to overhaul Nolot, who went into the final with two wins under her belt thanks to her performance in the qualifying series, with the British kite sailor only having one.
The British boarder took control of the first final race to even up the points with Nolot after a fascinating duel with the Frenchwoman, and in the next race seized the initiative from the start, to lead the other kite boarders around the course.
Aldridge put her victory down to her choice of a smaller, more easily manoeuvrable kite for the final race, which gained her an advantage going upwind and allowed her to overtake Nolot in their critical first race.
Britain has struggled to make the podium at this Games, with their only other sailing medal a bronze in women’s windsurfing.
“I feel really happy to have got a gold but also hope it brightens everyone’s spirits a bit after the week that we’ve had,” Aldridge said.
The semi-finals on Thursday saw high-speed wipeouts as the kiteboarders flew on their foils above the waves, controlling their huge kites with a bar and strings.
Although the men’s final had begun, racing was postponed until Friday as officials were not able to start what could have been the last race by the designated time.
“That’s our sport, that’s what it is. The weather doesn’t play ball sometimes … so try again tomorrow,” said Singapore’s Max Maeder after the racing was postponed when the wind faded just before the deadline.
Maeder said he had been playing chess in the lead up to the final and his rating was “higher than it has been ever”.
“So I’m in a very good space superstionally,” the 17-year-old said.
Maeder previously told Reuters of his superstition linking his performance on the chess board with that on the high-tech sailing board for which he is world champion.
(Reporting by Alexander Smith; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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