Golden dream a reality

Day 10 of competition saw NSWIS sailor Tom Slingsby win Australia’s first individual gold medal of the 2012 Olympic Games, triumphing in the men’s laser class.

Slingsby went into the medal race of the event holding a 14 point lead over his nearest competitor, Cypriot Pavlos Kontides, meaning he had to finish better than eighth if Kontides won the race. However, in a fantastic display of sailing, Slingsby sailed across the line in ninth place, holding Kontides to 10th place, and securing his maiden Olympic gold medal.

The gold comes four years after a campaign in Beijing where he finished 22nd, despite being the gold medal favourite in that event. Since that time Slingsby has dominated the competition, becoming the first Australian to be named ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, before eventually reaching the 2012 Games, seizing control of the laser race in Weymouth and never giving it back.

The NSWIS medal tally now stands at one gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

There was more good news emanating Weymouth after Slingsby’s triumph, with fellow NSWIS athletes Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen creating an unassailable 28 point lead heading into the medal race of the men’s 49er. The crew is all but assured gold when racing takes place on Wednesday night. And, with only two days of racing left, NSWIS athlete Malcolm Page is in position for a medal in the men’s 470. Page and his skipper Mat Belcher sit in first position with a one point lead.

Elsewhere on day 10, Steven Solomon’s Olympic campaign came to an end with a fantastic eighth place finish in the men’s 400m. Solomon ran a time of 45.14, just outside his personal best, however the experience of an Olympic final at 19 years of age will be invaluable as his career progresses.

Canoe sprint began on day 10 of competition at Eton Dorney, with NSWIS athletes Murray Stewart and Jo Brigden-Jones competing. After making it through to the semi-final, Stewart was eliminated from the men’s K1 1000m, as was Brigden-Jones in the women’s K4 500m. Stewart has another two events to come.

Edwina Tops-Alexander and Julia Hargreaves continued their equestrian campaigns at Greenwich Park, with both riders qualifying for the final of the showjumping competition; however at the Riverbank Arena the Australian women’s hockey team, featuring six NSWIS athletes, was eliminated from the medal rounds after a 0-0 draw with Argentina.

In more positive news, the Australian men’s basketball team and Australian men’s water polo team remained in contention for medals. The basketball team, including NSWIS athlete Aleks Maric, handed Russia their first defeat of the Games thanks to a Patty Mills buzzer beater, while the water polo team, including seven NSWIS athletes, defeated Greece 13-8 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Serbia.

Plenty of action takes place on day 11 of the Games. NSWIS athlete Brad Kahlefeldt competes in the men’s marathon as he hunts gold, while the Australian women’s water polo team faces a must win clash with arch-rivals, the USA, in order to reach the gold medal match.