Delay plays into British pair’s hands

LUKE PATIENCE and Stuart Bithell believe the delay to the men’s 470 medal race could work in their favour and also sets up what may prove to be a “golden day” for Great Britain.

The British pair are mathematically assured of at least a silver medal, having amassed a large enough points margin heading into the medal race to be sure that the third-placed crew, Argentina, could not catch them.

Patience and Bithell, though, still have eyes on gold, which they are aiming to wrestle off Australia’s Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page in a medal race that was slated for 1pm yesterday.

Light winds means it will now take place today at midday a delay the British pair believe will help their quest for the top podium position.

“I think it puts the ball in our court a little bit if we wait a bit longer,” Patience said.

“As we said the whole time, we have no pressure. It is win-win and I imagine if the Aussies are feeling anything, it is more discomfort than we are.

“The longer it draws out maybe it is a good thing for us and a worse thing for them.

The delay sets up what could be a superb day for British sailing.

Patience and Bithell will vie to top the podium at midday, before Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark look to take top honours in the women’s 470 an hour later.

They too are assured of silver as long as they are not disqualified or black flagged in the medal race, which they enter level at the top of the standings alongside New Zealand’s JoAleh and Olivia Powrie. WHEN THE torch goes out on Sunday night, the next Olympics will be the Winter Games in Sochi.

It’s definitely added to my motivation, seeing the likes of Jessica Ennis close-up. I knew before just how amazing it would be to win an Olympic medal, but this last fortnight has just reinforced it.

Tom Daley is renewing Qiu rivalry.