SOUTHAMPTON'S Iain Percy was denied a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the last 100 metres of a dramatic final race at Weymouth.

Swedish yachtsmen Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen denied Percy and crewmate Andrew Simpson gold in the Star class.

The defending Olympic champions sailed exceptionally throughout the week and came into today's medal race with an eight-point lead over Brazil's Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada.

However, it was Sweden, not Brazil, that proved Percy and Simpson's undoing as the Brits slipped from fifth to seventh in the final few metres.

Just minutes after the race finished, Percy said: "It feels cruel, sometimes. It was ridiculous conditions at the end. We feel a little robbed, but that is the way it goes."

Simpson added: "You are never 100% confident. We didn't get it right and can't blame anyone but ourselves. We had a great regatta overall, and we are really frustrated. We tried our hardest, but it wasn't to be."

The British pair came into the medal race with a comfortable lead, knowing fourth place or better would guarantee them gold.

They also needed to finish sixth or higher should third-place Sweden win the medal race, which, unfortunately for Percy and Simpson, they did.

Britain entered the final leg of the race in sixth but slipped away in the last 100 metres to finish seventh, handing Loof and Salminen gold on the Nothe Course.

Percy said: ''We just got it wrong and it is pretty gutting for sure. It is our fault and we will take it on the chin.''

Commenting on the Team GB fans cheering them on, he added: ''Just going past and getting the applause - we are hurting so much, it makes it so much easier that they (the fans) are happy for us.

''It is going to be a highlight of my life and probably the only thing that puts a smile back on my face.''