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7:43am Thursday 21st August 2008
HAMPSHIRE sailor Iain Percy has increased Britain's medal haul at the Olympics this morning after winning gold in the Star class.
The 32-year-old Southampton-born sailor and his teammate Andrew Simpson went into the medal race trailing Swedish fleet leaders Frederik Loof and Anders Ekstrom by just two points, needing to come in the top eight to pick up a medal.
But in a nail-biting finale to the week's racing, the former student of Peter Symonds College in Winchester pipped the Swedes at the line following a tense downwind leg to the finish.
Percy adds the medal, the sixth won by Team GB's sailors, to the gold he won in the Finn class in 2000.
Speaking after the race, Percy said: "It was such a tough race, but I knew we wouldn't bottle it and we didn't. It has been a really tough four years but it feels great to be on top of the world again."
It means Britain has now won four gold medals at the Olympic regatta as well as four silver medals and one bronze.
After the race triple gold medalist from Lymington Ben Ainslie said: "It's fantastic for the whole team.
"It's a special moment. For those guys to go out there and do what they did is unbelievable.
"Its a perfect way to end. I'm so happy for everyone in the team it could not have happen to a couple of better blokes."
Adrian Smith, says...
9:40am Thu 21 Aug 08
hulla wrote:If they live here (a la Ainslie) they are still from here.
Congratulations.
And is nice to see the heading of 'gold for Hampshire sailor' actually backed up by somebody born in Hampshire.
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
9:44am Thu 21 Aug 08
Adrian Smith, says...
9:47am Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:You may object to it, but it would still be factually correct.
Now that could open a whole can of worms... I live in southampton but I am most definately from Cornwall and would totaly object to someone refering to me as "of Southampton" even though I love the place and people it is not where im from!!
hulla, baloo says...
9:51am Thu 21 Aug 08
Adrian Smith wrote:So if you lived in Hampshire,(a la Ainsle) you would be from Macclesfield.
Luke Scott wrote: Now that could open a whole can of worms... I live in southampton but I am most definately from Cornwall and would totaly object to someone refering to me as "of Southampton" even though I love the place and people it is not where im from!!You may object to it, but it would still be factually correct. For example, if you went to Portsmouth for the day, you would be from Southampton. You don't have to be indigenous to be from somewhere.
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
9:58am Thu 21 Aug 08
LukeScott, Southampton says...
9:59am Thu 21 Aug 08
Adrian Smith, says...
10:00am Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:I didn't say that it stops you coming from where you were born - just that it's not wrong to say you come from where you live.
So in that vain all th scoucers living here are no longer from liverpool, the australians, Indians, Germans..... Although I see your point regarding your current place of residence we sould be careful as some of our athletes dont currently live in this country does that then mean they shouldnt comete for Britain?
Ken, Stubbington says...
10:02am Thu 21 Aug 08
hulla wrote:What you've said makes no sense in relation to the posts before.
Adrian Smith wrote:So if you lived in Hampshire,(a la Ainsle) you would be from Macclesfield.
Luke Scott wrote: Now that could open a whole can of worms... I live in southampton but I am most definately from Cornwall and would totaly object to someone refering to me as "of Southampton" even though I love the place and people it is not where im from!!You may object to it, but it would still be factually correct. For example, if you went to Portsmouth for the day, you would be from Southampton. You don't have to be indigenous to be from somewhere.
Ciaran, says...
10:05am Thu 21 Aug 08
Adrian Smith wrote:This can't be the real Adrian Smith - there's actual a sign of a sense of humour!
Luke Scott wrote:I didn't say that it stops you coming from where you were born - just that it's not wrong to say you come from where you live.
So in that vain all th scoucers living here are no longer from liverpool, the australians, Indians, Germans..... Although I see your point regarding your current place of residence we sould be careful as some of our athletes dont currently live in this country does that then mean they shouldnt comete for Britain?
See where I'm coming from?
hulla, baloo says...
10:26am Thu 21 Aug 08
Ken wrote:Seems to be a differing of opinions as to where people should say they are from.
hulla wrote:What you've said makes no sense in relation to the posts before.Adrian Smith wrote:So if you lived in Hampshire,(a la Ainsle) you would be from Macclesfield.Luke Scott wrote: Now that could open a whole can of worms... I live in southampton but I am most definately from Cornwall and would totaly object to someone refering to me as "of Southampton" even though I love the place and people it is not where im from!!You may object to it, but it would still be factually correct. For example, if you went to Portsmouth for the day, you would be from Southampton. You don't have to be indigenous to be from somewhere.
jesus, quimchester says...
11:50am Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott, Soton says...
12:40pm Thu 21 Aug 08
jesus wrote:Cancer and all those other terminal/life affecting illnesses should have massive maounts of funding I agree but you cannot stop life going on around for the rest of the world. How much happiness, excitement and involvement do the olympic games bring to everyone? I for one think its worth every penny and the lifting of national pride has meant this one has been priceless. Well Done Team GB wherever your roots I for one am proud to be British.
Its not a sport if you do it sat down. Cant beleive were spending x billion pounds on this, would rather cancer sufferers got their drugs.
Luke Scott, Soton says...
12:42pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
12:44pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:I tell you what Ill take you out on an asymetric cat or a hiking dinghy for an hours race and if your not nursing your aching bones or your stinging abs the next day presuming that is your not still asleep then maybe ill entertain your idea but in the mean time ill say you have no idea what your talking about.
jesus wrote: Its not a sport if you do it sat down. Cant beleive were spending x billion pounds on this, would rather cancer sufferers got their drugs.Cancer and all those other terminal/life affecting illnesses should have massive maounts of funding I agree but you cannot stop life going on around for the rest of the world. How much happiness, excitement and involvement do the olympic games bring to everyone? I for one think its worth every penny and the lifting of national pride has meant this one has been priceless. Well Done Team GB wherever your roots I for one am proud to be British.
sailor, says...
1:28pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:here here Luke, well said.
Luke Scott wrote:I tell you what Ill take you out on an asymetric cat or a hiking dinghy for an hours race and if your not nursing your aching bones or your stinging abs the next day presuming that is your not still asleep then maybe ill entertain your idea but in the mean time ill say you have no idea what your talking about.jesus wrote: Its not a sport if you do it sat down. Cant beleive were spending x billion pounds on this, would rather cancer sufferers got their drugs.Cancer and all those other terminal/life affecting illnesses should have massive maounts of funding I agree but you cannot stop life going on around for the rest of the world. How much happiness, excitement and involvement do the olympic games bring to everyone? I for one think its worth every penny and the lifting of national pride has meant this one has been priceless. Well Done Team GB wherever your roots I for one am proud to be British.
Iain, Lordshill says...
1:43pm Thu 21 Aug 08
I tell you what Ill take you out on an asymetric cat
southy, redbridge says...
2:36pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
2:37pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Bikerjohn, In fits of laughter says...
2:56pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:Yawn!
Asymetric cats can be quite disturbing trust me ;-) just youtube "F18 Pitchpole" and you will see what I mean.
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
4:00pm Thu 21 Aug 08
gristle, soton says...
7:01pm Thu 21 Aug 08
Bikerjohn, Southampton says...
12:44pm Fri 22 Aug 08
Luke Scott wrote:Yep your right there I completely forgot how forgetable sailing really is.
Tired just riding a bike I'd forget sailing then.
Luke Scott, Southampton says...
12:05pm Tue 2 Sep 08
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hulla, baloo says...
9:36am Thu 21 Aug 08
And is nice to see the heading of 'gold for Hampshire sailor' actually backed up by somebody born in Hampshire.