O’Leary, Burrows struggle as Ainslie bags another gold

Disappointment added to disappointment for the beleaguered Irish Star duo of Peter O’Leary and David Burrows.

Hoping to finish on a proud note they struggled to tenth place in the desperately close, tense medal race yesterday to finish tenth overall. In light breezes on the showcase Nothe course, they started well again but were behind at the top mark after a shifty, difficult first beat. Ben Ainslie won his fourth consecutive sailing Olympic gold medal in front of an ecstatic home crowd on Weymouth’s Nothe medal arena after a nail-biting medal race which saw the British hero facing the momentary prospect of missing out.

But Ainslie’s successful defence of the title he won in Qingdao, China ensures he is now the most decorated Olympic sailor ever. By virtue of the silver medal he won in 1996 in the Laser, he now exceeds the record of Denmark’s legendary Paul Elvstrom who won four golds between 1948 and 1960.