NICK WIDE AWAKE TO SILVER
MEN’S WINDSURFING
NICK DEMPSEY survived a sleepless night to clinch a silver medal in the men’s windsurfing – and finally banished his Beijing nightmare.
Dempsey was distraught four years ago when he finished fourth after taking bronze in Athens 2004.
And he feared he may miss out again when Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberge wrapped up gold at Weymouth with two races to go.
But Dempsey held his nerve and secured second place despite nerves meaning he barely slept ahead of the final race.
Dempsey said: “It’s been a pretty difficult four years but I always believed I could come here and do well.
“I’m just massively relieved more than anything. It’s been really tough.
“The Dutch guy had such a good start to the regatta and it was about coming to terms very quickly with the fact I was only going to be racing for second.
“I was desperate, desperate to win silver. Third was going to be a disaster, and fourth I don’t know what I’d have done.
“I’m just glad I could do it for all the people who have helped me.”