The mother of silver medal-winning sailor Anna Burnet has said she is “completely over the moon” and a “very proud mum”.

Burnet, 28, from Shandon, secured silver in the mixed Nacra 17 class at the Tokyo Olympics alongside her sailing partner John Gimson, 38, on Tuesday morning.

Mum Louise said her daughter, who is competing in her first Olympic Games, has “always had this great passion” since she began sailing at the age of five in an Optimist dinghy.

Mrs Burnet, 62, told the PA news agency that “we would never ever have dreamed of this happening”, adding: “We’re completely over the moon, it’s an awesome result.”

The retired musician said: “They’ve just been a great team together and it’s a massive passion for them both.

READ MORE: Burnet partners Gimson to Nacra 17 silver medal in Tokyo Olympics

“They are really good friends and you need that partner you click with.

“When Anna started sailing at the local yacht club she had no fear of the water from an early age.

“There were a lot of long drives at weekends which her father Colin did a lot of – 11 hours down to the south coast at weekends – and it is certainly all worth it now.”

The achievement came on a stellar morning for Team GB sailors, with Giles Scott defending his Olympic title to be crowned champion in the men’s Finn class and Stuart Bithell and Dylan Fletcher securing gold in the 49er class.

Burnet, who now lives in Weymouth, Dorset, started sailing at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club in Rhu – which made her an honorary member at its annual prizegiving earlier this year.

READ MORE: RNCYC honours Anna after Shandon sailor wins world championship title

She soon won the female national Optimist title and was selected for the British worlds team in 2006 at the age of 14.

The pair's Olympic silver medal comes after they won gold in the Nacra 17 class at the World Championships in Australia in February 2020 – just weeks after being named in the Team GB sailing squad for Tokyo.

Chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said: “Scotland has a proud tradition of successful sailors on Team GB and it’s terrific to see Anna Burnet join that illustrious list.

“To be selected to compete at an Olympic Games is a huge achievement, but to win a silver medal is very special.

“Congratulations to Anna, her partner John Gimson and the whole Scottish and British sailing family.”

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