Hannah thrills as magic Maher finds his perfect match
HANNAH MILLS became the most successful female sailor in Olympic history on another glorious day for Great Britain as showjumper Ben Maher also struck gold in Tokyo.
Mills, 33, and crew-mate Eilidh McIntyre only needed to finish in the top seven in the women’s 470 class medal race after a dominant regatta in Enoshima and crossed the line comfortably in fifth.
They faced a nervous wait, however, as the French crew – pipped to silver by Poland – put in a protest about the British being passed by the Poles in the final stages, but that was swiftly dismissed.
‘(There were) nerves like nothing else,’ said Mills. ‘I just felt sick every single day – eating was a chore, sleeping was a chore. I just wanted to win. To be successful, to make Eilidh proud and my team proud and everyone back home proud.’
The Welsh sailor won silver in London and gold in Rio with Saskia
Clark before becoming world champions with McIntyre at Enoshima in 2019. McIntyre emulates her dad Michael who won the Star class event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
There was disappointment for 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience and Chris Grube in the men’s 470.
They were sitting second after eight races but dropped to fifth.
Meanwhile, Maher will have two special guests at his wedding this month – a gold medal and his won
der horse Explosion W who is stabled just 50 metres from the Hertfordshire home where he will marry American fiancee Sophie.
Maher produced a dazzling display under the floodlights at Tokyo Equestrian Park, taking gold after a dramatic six-horse jump-off.
‘I don’t know what was more pressure – this, or getting married in a fortnight,’ said the 38-year-old.
‘I am biased but I believe I’m on the best horse. He’s incredible.’