In the Laser Radial Sailing class, Emma Blaschaert will start the medal race with the top ten sailors in fifth place on Sunday. Will she be able to advance towards medals in the final race? “Bronze is within reach, silver is still possible,” says Evi Van Acker.
Emma Blaskhart It wasn’t a good day in the penultimate series of beam laser class in sailing. But due to the poor performance of her competitors, she still started fifth in Sunday’s medal race.
According to Evie van Acker, Plasschaert could look back on a solid week on the water. “If you look at the total number of points, you will find that they are in first place with a tie. That is, without a subtraction series.”
“The other hats also sailed in a race that was a little lower. It was mainly because of the changing weather conditions. You certainly don’t always have to sail in the top five to win a medal,” Van Acker says.
Van Acker himself won the bronze in 2012 in London and saw Plasschaert on nerves at first. “It’s also her first Olympic Games and that’s a huge burden for her. As a sailor, you’re not used to being in the spotlight.”
Emma grew significantly during the event.
“Emma has grown tremendously during the event. Day by day, the condition is improving, and even after the ninth temperature drop, she is still in good shape. She is very close to the order. Bronze is in hand, silver is also possible,” says Van Acker.
“Plus, she finished eighth anyway. Getting an Olympic diploma with her debut is already an amazing feat.”
It was also a bad day for its competitors.
Blackshart won the Olympic Test event in Tokyo last year. Mentally, that could give a boost in the race for medals, says Van Acker.
“Of course a lot has happened in the meantime, but she can definitely trust. If all goes well, a medal is certainly possible,” says Van Acker.
The competition will be very tough on Sunday. Denmark’s Anne-Marie Random and Dutch defending champion Marit Baumeister are already in their third Olympics and therefore have plenty of experience. “But they also had a bad day in Tokyo,” Van Acker says.
We have everything to fight for and then we will see where we end up.
“The most important thing is that we have everything to fight for and then we will see where we end up. Plasschaert has gained a lot of experience here, and this will only be useful for the future. But of course we hope for the best result”, concludes Van Acker.
Danish Rindom starts the medal race as leader.
| Emma Blaschaert Program | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 25 July | Series 1 and 2 | tenth at 17 | Transfer |
| Monday 26th July | Series 3 and 4 | eleven and eight | Transfer |
| Tuesday 27 July | Series 5 and 6 | sixth and fifth | Transfer |
| Thursday 29th July | Series 7 and 8 | Fifth and fourth | Transfer |
| Friday 30 July | Series 9 and 10 | 17 and 21 | Transfer |
| Sunday August 1 | medal race | 8.33 You | |
| Interim Result | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anne Marie Random (Den) | 64 points |
| 2. | Marit Baumeister (Ned) | 71 |
| 3. | Josephine Olson (two) | 79 |
| 4. | Sarah Douglas (Canada) | 82 |
| 5 | Emma Blackshart | 83 |
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