SIR BEN AINSLIE GRABS VICTORY AT LONDON 2012
The sailor played the high stakes to win his final race at London 2012
As the final showdown between myself and Danish sailor Jonas Høgh-christensen approached, I knew that it would probably be the last race of my Olympic sailing career and one of us would take gold. The race was almost unbearably close, but I had to make a split-second decision on whether to manoeuvre my boat into a new area to find better wind. It really was do or die, so I took the risk. Anyone who tells you that those sorts of situations are easy to handle is lying; the pressure on the race course is unique. Going back to your processes is the only way to keep calm. My judgement call paid off and I was propelled into the lead and hung on to win the gold medal.