Olympic sailor's delight
Published 9 Jan 2012 09:30
Helensburgh sailor Luke Patience has become the first Scot to qualify for the London Olympoics.
As the news broke this morning (Monday), Luke said he was excited and privileged.
Luke and crew Stuart Bithell knew their silver medal at the world championships put them in the driving seat for Olympic selection.
The pair won 470 class silver at the ISAF World Championships in Perth last month to effectively clinch their slot over British rivals Nick Rogers and Chris Grube and two-time world champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis.
Patience, 25, and Manchester's Bithell, also 25, got together in 2009 and have consistently appeared on the podiums at major championships and regattas since.
They missed out on selection for the London 2012 test regatta, the British slot taken by double Olympic silver medallist Rogers and new crew Grube after their performance at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta, but bounced back to underline their credentials in Australia.
"Even though we weren't sailing together at the time, Stuart and I by complete coincidence were in the same room when London was announced as the hosts of the 2012 Olympic Games," said Patience.
"I feel so privileged and am so excited to have been selected. I can't wait to be a part of a home Games in one of the greatest cities on earth.
"We're absolutely not just going for the t-shirt though. It's been hard work getting to this point but we're by no means letting our hair down now.
"In our campaign we are conscious to celebrate all the small successes along the way, so we're definitely enjoying this moment, but we have just one goal and that's to win a gold medal this summer in London so selection is by no means the end of the job."
This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 09 Jan 12
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