LU Yunxiu wins last women's windsurfing RS:X Olympic gold medal

People's Republic of China's LU Yunxiu has won the last windsurfing RS:X Olympic gold medal after finishing first overall at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

It was a full circle moment for People's Republic of China RS:X windsurfers - YIN Jian won the first Olympic gold medal of the event back at Beijing 2008. The discipline not feature at Paris 2024 and will be replaced by foil.

With the top three; Lu, France's Charline Picon and Great Britain's Emma Wilson all guaranteed a medal after breaking away from the rest of the pack, the medal race determined which colour each of the three would finish with.

As the race got underway Lu (first) had a four point margin on Wilson (second) and six points on Picon (third).

In light but humid hot conditions near Enoshima, Picon managed to shake off her younger competitors after the third mark. The Rio 2016 gold medallist threw everything she could at the race to defend her title but with Lu lifting herself from fifth to third, it was enough to secure the Chinese athlete gold.

"It's the team that won, this medal is for our teamwork," Lu said. "The medal race was tough, not only that we didn't have much wind, but also the struggle in myself, within me, about whether I could overcome and believe in myself that I could win."

The result meant that China would be the first nation to claim their third Olympic medals in the event after Yin (Beijing 2008 - gold) and CHEN Peina (Rio 2016 - silver). No other NOC has claimed multiple Olympic medals in this event.

"I believe this medal is also just the start for windsurfing in China, there will be more medals," Lu said. "We already have many remarkable windsurfers in China, and this medal will inspire more people to take up the sport."

Picon crossing the line first in the medal race was enough to lift her to the silver medal position.

Wilson became the second Brit to win bronze in the RS:X event (men's or women's). The 22-year-old had just missed out on the medals at recent World and European Championships, fourth and fifth respectively, so to land on the podium at the Olympic Games was an exciting achievement.

“I've come fourth so many times it means so much to finally get on the podium and to do it at the Olympics is great," Wilson told Team GB.

“My mum (a two-time Olympian) has been a big influence but there are so many other people too, my coaches and my training partners. This medal is not just for me but for everyone else."