A Dorset windsurfer 'should be proud' despite disappointment following the bronze medal at the Olympics.
Portland's Emma Wilson had to settle for a bronze medal after finishing last in the women's windsurfing medal race off the coast of Marseille yesterday.
The 25-year-old held a narrow lead at the halfway stage of the final but fell away dramatically before the third mark and finished well behind gold medallist Marta Maggetti of Italy and Israel's Sharon Kantor in second place.
It was a crushing blow for Wilson who had dominated the windsurfing races at the Marseille regatta, winning eight of the 14 qualifiers to seal a direct place in the delayed final.
Wilson was cheered on at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy by members of the British sailing team including her training partners and previous coaches as well as fellow sailors and windsurfers.
Her family cheered her on in person in France.
Islay Watson is a fellow windsurfer who trains with Wilson.
She said: "That was a rollercoaster to watch. Obviously, so proud of of her and that she has got her second Olympic medal.
"Devastated to watch her come across that line and have those feelings. She was head and shoulders over everyone else, and she has worked so hard to make sure that she is on that leading positioning so to have it come down to just that one lay line, one tack, is just really hard to watch.
"She will be proud of herself but that first gut reaction will be really difficult because she has put so much work into winning this."
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Barrie Edgington, who coached Wilson for her Tokyo Olympic run said: "This year was the first one I have watched on this side of the TV (rather than in person).
"I am absolutely gutted for Emma. She has been the dominant sailor in this new class for the last couple of years and never lost a medal race.
"I know she is absolutely wedded to that Gold because that is who she is. It is really tough but she should be proud.
"I know her she will bounce back, she is an absolute legend."
Wilson’s team-mate Sam Sills, who qualified for the quarter-finals in fifth place, battled through to the semi-finals where he finished fourth and last and did not advance to the final.
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