The 49erFX Olympic event was exceptionally long. Due to a lack of wind, the races were postponed until late evening. To further that point, the medal race was postponed to the following day. The stress was palpable.
Odile Van Aanholt and Annette Duetz had been showcasing their speed and excellent sailing skills not just during the games but also over the past two years. The Dutch team won the World Championships in Lanzarote in March 2024, and in August 2023, they claimed the Silver medal at the World Championships in The Hague.
The Dutch duo had a remarkable start to the regatta, kicking off with two race wins. Throughout the twelve starts, Odile and Annette only finished outside the top ten three times. Consistent sailing and determination secured them a spot in the medal race as the leading team. The Olympic Games in Marseille also saw outstanding performances from the Swedish team of Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler (2023 World Champions), the French duo Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon, and the Norwegian pair Helena Naess and Maria Roenningen, with the battle for medals continuing down to the final meters.
It was the most thrilling and dramatic medal race of the Games. Here’s a detailed account from Andy Rice of World Sailing:
“After a solid start and a great first windward leg, the Dutch rounded the first mark right on the tail of the Norwegians, also in contention for the medals, Helene Naess and Marie Ronningen. The Norwegians luffed up to defend themselves against the Dutch, and Sweden’s Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler grabbed an opportunity for a slick gybe-hoist to plane away at high speed down the opposite side of the downwind leg.
It was a great attacking move by the Swedes, looking to move up from the bronze medal position. Meanwhile, further back were the French, Sarah Steyaert and Charline Picon, who had started in gold medal position but were effectively level-pegging on points with the Dutch. They rounded the top mark in sixth, which put them back into bronze and close to being edged off the podium by the Norwegians at the front.
Sailing up the second windward leg, the French found a great way through gusts and wind shifts to start threatening Sweden for the silver, while the Norwegians dropped back down the order.
Down the final run to the finish, the Dutch were looking clear ahead of the USA’s Steph Roble and Maggie Shea in second. Both boats charged towards the race committee boat, but the Swedes in third turned left past the committee boat towards... towards the actual finish!
Realizing their monumental error, the American and Dutch boats quickly changed course and charged towards the finish line. The Swedes crossed in first and celebrated like they had won gold. Perhaps they had! For a moment, no one knew. The Italians had also taken advantage of the confusion to cross in second. The Dutch managed to haul themselves across the line in third, just ahead of New Zealand. But what of the gold? Was it still theirs?
Steyaert and Picon crossed in sixth, a place behind the outgoing Olympic champions from Brazil. The French capsized in celebration. They knew they had won a medal, and that was a massive achievement for a team that few had marked as favorites for a podium performance. The Swedes capsized too, knowing they had completed their week in the best possible way, with an unexpected victory in the medal race.
But what of the Dutch? Their coach, Kai Böcker, hurriedly got out the printed sailing instructions from his waterproof bag. He checked his tablet computer. Finally, it began to dawn on them. They started to believe as the photographers gathered round in ribs, yelling at them that, ‘Yes! You HAVE won!’”