Paris 2024 sailing: All results, as Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz from Netherlands win women's skiff pair gold
Netherland's women's skiff world champions Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz added Olympic gold to their collection in sailing at the Paris 2024 regatta in Marseille despite an error that saw the pair stop prematurely, thinking they had crossed the finish line.
Sweden's Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler claimed silver with 76 points to Netherlands' 74, with Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon of France claiming bronze on home water with 79.
Dutch crew recover after stopping too early
Unpredictable conditions had impacted sailing events at Paris 2024 up to the medal race on Friday 2 August for the skiff races.
Twelve races had been completed up to the all-important medal race, which offered double points.
The French pair Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon had edged ahead the previous day, with two finishes in the top ten, to take the lead off the coast of Marseille.
The Netherlands led throughout the medal race and looked to be heading toward a serene sail across the finish line and celebrations, knowing the result would be enough to win gold.
Panic ensued, however, when they realised they had stopped racing too early, thinking they'd crossed the finish line. They quickly regrouped but not before Sweden and Italy came through to take first and second in the all-important showdown. Netherlands were third, and waiting nervously on the points shakedown to decide medal positions.
Screams of delight and relief erupted when the gold medal was confirmed for the Dutch crew, while the Swedish pair, the 2023 world champions, were busily celebrating silver.
"It's crazy and a bit unbelievable but so, so good," said van Aanholt afterwards, before addressing the confusion at the end of the race.
"It was a bit crazy because we crossed the finish and we didn't hear a horn so we knew something was wrong. We are very happy with our resilience there. We were super quick as a team to say, 'OK, this is plan B, let's go.' We couldn't have done it any better in the end. So it's just relief. I'm very, very happy."
Silver medallist Netzler said: "It feels incredible. We’re a little bit empty right now, it’s so big to take in. We have our families here, we have everyone here."
There was delight for France, too, with a well-earned bronze, with an emotional Steyaert commenting about coming out of retirement for a home Games: "It's incredible. I came back because it was in Marseille and we get one medal. I'm so happy."
Her compatriot, Picon, literally had her dream come true.
"On the first day of the first race, I said at breakfast that we would win bronze because it was in my dreams that night. We took the bronze so I couldn't be happier about what we did this week."
Brazil's double Olympic champions, Martine Soffiatti Grael and Kahena Kunze, were unable to replicate their two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the event, finishing fifth in the medal race, and eighth overall.
Women’s skiff podium:
Gold: Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz (Netherlands)
Silver: Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler (Sweden)
Bronze: Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon (France)