At the beginning of the Olympics, the sailing events and these have been recently concluded. With the regattas being wrapped up, it is a good stage to sit back and review all the major events that took place.

The main mission for all teams has been a race for the medals. There have been a series of 10 or 12 races that have been concluded this week. Those who achieved top ten positions in every event advanced to double point races where there were no disqualifications. Every sailor team has prepared for these races for years and months and all that was put to test during the two weeks of the Olympic Games. The test has been to withstand the pressure and be able to triumph in the end.

Indeed, the sailing landscape was a challenge for most, with the changeable conditions almost akin to yacht chartering in the UK. The Pao de Acucuar course had its challenges and no one was completely prepared for the uncertain weather conditions and waters that were unruly and difficult to tame on the days of the tournaments. The challenges were unique around the island that lay in the opening of the bay into the ocean as well as around the Flamengo beach and even around the Sugarloaf Mountain that presented challenging wind conditions.

Before the medal race began there were four champions who emerged and were obvious to have risen above all possibilities of defeat. There were several myths broken and expectations ridden over as the usual favorites and expected medal champions were overridden with new champions in the making.

For instance, Dorian van Rijsselberghe put up a surprising performance witnessed by all in the category of RS: X Men. He claimed his first position earlier. Robert Scheidt of Brazil had been an expected favorite in the Laser Men category, but his hopes were crushed by Tom Burton who dominated the race from the very beginning.