The Youth Olympic Games have been widely acclaimed as an outstanding success and Singapore have been wonderful hosts.[more]
On an overcast but warm day at the National Sailing Centre it was an anxious wait in the morning for the wind to build on medal race day. However the wind gods rallied and delivered a light and shifty 6 – 8 knot breeze that was just sufficient to complete the medal races to schedule.
Thailand’s golden girl Siripon Kaewduang-Ngam sailed to windsurfing victory to claim the first medal of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Kaewduang-Ngam sailed a conservative race and despite a fourth-place finish in the medal race she sailed a magnificent series that has included five consecutive race wins.
She described her feelings in the medal race.
“Just keep myself calm, don’t get too excited so that I won’t get panicked. Just thinking about passing the finishing line and not thinking about anything else.”
As she stepped ashore she said, “I’m very proud of myself and I’m very proud of my country.”
“It’s a lot of good experience and I’ve got to know a lot of friends. I’ve found out what it’s like to win and lose. Losing is also important. If you can take victory you must also be able to take defeat.”
Veronica Fanciulli (ITA) won the final race of the regatta and sealed the silver medal in the process. Fancuilli had sailed a consistent series improving on the last two days.Singapore’s Audrey Pei Lin Yong came third in the final race, which meant she clinched bronze and edged 2010 World Champion Naomi Cohen (ISR) out of medal contention by three points.
When Yong reached the shore it seemed like the whole of Singapore had come to greet her, the volunteers all screamed and the local party began.
“The pressure was a lot but being able to deliver feels really, really good. Overall, it was intense but I’m glad my efforts paid off.”
“It’s pretty damn awesome winning a medal! And I told myself to go all out since it is the last race. ‘The race of my life,’ my coach said.”
Boys Techno 293
Long-time competition leader Mayan Rafic (ISR) won the Boys Techno 293 gold medal finishing nine points ahead of Michael Chun Leung Cheng (HKG), who took the silver.
Great Britain’s Kieran Martin won the medal race on the final day, to pick up the bronze medal by three points from Chaneui Kim (KOR).
The popular Israeli had made many friends during the Youth Olympic Games and was barely able to contain his joy on reaching the shore.
“It’s unbelievable, I don’t have any words to describe it, it’s great, great, great!
“When I went over the finish line, everyone was clapping, it was an amazing feeling.”
The battle for silver came down to the wire but Cheng just pipped Martin by a single point. When he reached the beach he didn’t know what colour medal he had won.
“I’m very happy with the result I don’t know exactly what I got but I’m just happy to get a medal.”
The official medal ceremony took place on the foreshore of the Singapore National Sailing Centre. All competitors were presented with their own photos of themselves in action on the water, a real momento of a superb regatta. The thousands of volunteers that had worked so tirelessly throughout these Youth Olympic Games came to cheer the friends they had made and the atmosphere was an unforgetable experience.
To access photos and results on the Sailing competition at the Youth Olympic Games website visit: www.sailing.org/yog
