France's Merret wins Olympic women's mistral gold
(people.com.cn)
Updated: 2004-08-26 08:44

France's Faustine Merret won the women's windsurfing Mistral gold medal at the Athens Olympics in Athens on August 25.

Merret, silver medallist at the world championships in 2004, collected 31 net points for the title.

China's Jian Yin celebrates as she crosses the finish line of the final race and winning silver in Women's windsurfer mistral at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games regatta August 25, 2004. [Reuters]

China's Yin Jian celebrates winning silver in women's windsurfer mistral at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games regatta August 25, 2004. [Reuters]

China's Yin Jian finished top in Wednesday's race 11 but was second overall, just two points behind Merret.

"I sailed very well today. I'm satisfied with the result," said the 26-year-old Yin, who was competing in her first Olympics.

Yin could have won the gold if she fared better in race 10 where she only ranked ninth.

"Aware of the possibility of winning the gold, I was unable to fully concentrate on race 10," said Yin.

Yin, who didn't have a good start, won race six, seventh and eighth consecutively to jump to first in the standings on Sunday. But a ninth-place finish in race 10 cost her the title.

Sydney Olympic champion Alessandra Sensini of Italy, who led all windsurfers before the final race, took bronze on 34.

Lee Lai Shan of Hong Kong, China, was a distant fourth on 42 points.

The 34-year-old Lee, the most successful athlete of Hong Kong, won the women's Mistral gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

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