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Joy as Mills is crowned most successful female Olympic sailor

Anthony France in Tokyo

THE mother of Hannah Mills spoke of her “absolute joy and ecstasy” as her daughter won gold to become the most successful ever female Olympic sailor.

Mills, 33, of Cardiff, who was joint British flagbearer at the opening ceremony, won with Eilidh McIntyre today in the women’s 470 class in Tokyo.

It follows silver in London and gold in Rio with Saskia Clark in the same boat.

Mills and McIntyre, 27, of Hampshire, have dominated the regatta at Enoshima, winning two races and only twice finishing outside the top four. They went into the medal race with a 14-point lead.

The pair only needed to finish in the top seven to clinch gold and they were never in any danger, crossing the line comfortably in fifth. They jumped into the water as they celebrated.

Mills said: “It’s been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I’m sure for Eilidh as well, just every day, not being able to eat, nerves building up, the emotion of just we’ve done it.

“It’s over. We’ve done what we came here it to do and it’s amazing.”

Following her daughter’s victory, Mills’ mother Fiona said her daughter had worked “so hard” throughout her sailing career and was now inspiring young sailors.

McIntyre follows in the footsteps of her father Mike who won sailing gold in the star class at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Her fiancé Jonny Forer, from Old Portsmouth, said: “it’s always been her dream. I’m so proud of her.”

Earlier, Chris Grube, 36, of Chester, and London 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience, 34, from Scotland, finished a disappointing fifth in the men’s 470.

News Olympics Tokyo

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2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

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