TEAM GB was disqualified from mixed multihull sailing after crossing the start line before the start of the race.
John Gimson and Anna Burnet, who are due to marry next month, missed out on repeating their silver medal in Tokyo after finishing fourth in the Nacra 17 catamaran standings.
8
John Gimson and Anna Burnet were left heartbroken after being disqualified from the medal race Credit: Getty
8
Burnet immediately burst into tears on the waterCredit: AFP
8
Gimson stayed to comfort his fiancee after their disqualificationCredit: AFP
8
The duo missed out on another Olympic medalCredit: EPA
8
The pair won silver at the same event in Tokyo 2020. Credit: Getty
The Team GB duo were judged to have crossed the line when the start siren sounded.
According to the rules of the race, they had to go back and perform a 360-degree spin before restarting the race.
But, perhaps unaware of the mistake, they continued, leading the race from the start before the referee told them they were disqualified.
Burnet was left completely distraught, first holding her head in her hands and then being comforted by her fiance.
Gimson, 41, told the BBC: “We made one mistake and it cost us an Olympic medal so you can imagine we’re pretty gutted.”
While Scot Burnet, 31, said: “It’s devastating at the moment, it’s a nightmare, but we can be proud of what we’ve done.
“There’s no one I’d rather be here with. We’re so lucky to be able to do this together. Ups and downs, we’re waiting together.”
Italy’s Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, who led the medal race, crossed the finish line in second to defend their Olympic title.
8
Team GB couldn’t believe their luck after having a regatta to forget Credit: Getty
FREE OLYMPIC BETS – REGISTRATION OFFERS AND PARIS 2024 OFFER
Argentina’s Mateo Majdalani and Eugenia Bosco won silver, while New Zealanders Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson won bronze.
Kiwis were eighth in the fight for medals, but that was enough for them to win the podium.
Ethiopian star Lamecha Girma is recovering in hospital after a harrowing fall during the 3000m steeplechase fractured his head
But it is another blow to the vaunted British team who had a regatta to forget.
Windsurfer Emma Wilson lost gold and dropped to bronze in her final after dominating the competition, while all the hullless sailors were without medals.
That leaves kitesurfer Ellie Aldridge, who qualified for this afternoon’s four-boat final, as the last remaining hope for a podium finish.
How are points awarded in sailing?
The races are run in a fleet racing format, where all boats start and compete together.
Olympic sailing uses a ‘low points’ scoring system, where the winner of each race gets one point; second place is awarded with two points, and so on.
Points are awarded based on finishing positions in each race, with the team with the lowest total points at the end of the series winning.
If a sailor fails to finish the race or is disqualified, he gets one more than the total number of sailors in that discipline.
For example, if there are 20 sailors participating in the race, the disqualified sailor will receive 21 points.
Gimson and Burnet got 22 points and because of that they missed out on a second Olympic medal.
8
Mixed sailors attended the Team GB Ball at Battersea Evolution 2021 Credit: Getty
8
Gimson and Burnet are set to tie the knot next monthCredit: Instagram / annaburnet
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education