View from SunSport’s Martin Lipton in Paris
Ellie Aldridge won a thrilling kite-foiling gold – as she upset France’s wave heroine in her own back yard.
The world number three, 27, knew she could not let Lauriane Nolot beat her once in the shoot out for the medals after the French world champion held a one race advantage.
But two brilliant races by the Dorset foiler made British sailing history – and rescued a nightmare regatta in the final GB race of the week.
Nolot, who pipped the Brit to last year’s world championships, needed to win just one of the first two races to take gold.
But it was Aldridge who struck the first blow, wiping out the French world champion’s one race handicap advantage in the opening heat of the final.
That had been a nip and tuck affair, with the two swapping the lead twice before Dorset’s Aldridge streaked away on the critical final full leg.
With the other two finalists – Daniela Moroz of the USA and Holland’s Annelous Lammerts – trailing in behind it effectively meant a head to head shoot out for gold in the next race.
And it was Aldridge who took it
Once again, Aldridge was fastest away, with Nolot heading to the other side of the course and getting her speed up far quicker.
But Aldridge went clear as Nolot hit the deck, splashing into the water at the first mark.
Now it was about whether Aldridge could hold on to her lead to take gold.
She did, superbly, destroying the field and cruising over the line.
Aldridge hands over her face in joyous disbelief before raising her left arm in triumph and embarking on a victory parade around Marseille Marina.
