Race Day 7 - Laser Report
Written by RYA | 04 August 2012
Goody – “I’ll do myself proud”
Paul Goodison insisted he wants do himself “proud in the medal race” as he ended his opening series of 10 races on day seven of the Olympic Sailing Regatta today (Saturday 4 August).
Goodison’s dreams of making it on to the London 2012 podium were ended as he collected scores of ninth and eighth in what were the Laser’s final two series races, leaving him sixth overall but an insurmountable 27 points from bronze medal position heading into Monday’s final double points’ medal race.
The 34-year-old has struggled with a back injury since race two of the regatta and has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy and pain management to race.
But with just one more race to come Goodison just wants to finish his regatta as strongly as possible.
He said: “It’s been a four year plan to try and win a medal and unfortunately that has gone away but I still want to the best I can and do myself proud in the medal race on Monday. I started beautifully in both races today and made the first decision really well but when you’re not going the same speed as the rest of the fleet towards the end of the beat it’s hard to stay in front.
“I’m a little bit deflated it’s been an uphill struggle. You try and put on a brave face and push through but when you know within yourself that your only 80-90% of all your possibilities then it’s going to be massive uphill struggle.
“The first couple of days the decision making was gone because of the amount of pain. I obviously took some pills to help take that away, which meant the decision making was there, but unfortunately the pace isn’t there when you can only push yourself so hard and that’s not your 100% then you’re at the back.”
The Laser medal race is scheduled for Monday 6 August (2pm) on the spectator Nothe course.
The Olympic Sailing Regatta runs from Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August.
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