Marit Bouwmeester from the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women’s dinghy at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. This is her fourth consecutive Games where she has reached the podium.
Denmark’s Anne-Marie Rindom, a four-time Olympian who won gold in Tokyo three years ago, took the silver medal. Line Flem Hoest from Norway won the bronze and celebrated by pumping her fist in the air as she crossed the finish line. She then jumped into the water to hug her friend Rindom.
The medal races for both women and men were postponed to Wednesday due to unpredictable and light winds, along with the intense heat, which tested the athletes’ physical and mental endurance.
At 36 years old, Bouwmeester had previously won silver in this sailing class in London in 2012, gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and bronze in Tokyo. This was her first Olympic medal since becoming a mother; her 2-year-old daughter, Jessie Mae, has joined her in training, Bouwmeester said.
“I’m very, very, very grateful to be in the Olympics and also be a mom,” Bouwmeester said.
She did not completely rule out competing in a fifth Olympics but mentioned that her main focus now is her daughter: “I just want to go home and be there for little Jessie Mae.”
Rindom described Wednesday’s racing as “amazing” after a “tricky week of sailing.” Hoest secured her bronze with a “safe start” and then concentrated on speed.
“From the first downwind, I knew, ‘keep breathing, keep sailing, this medal is yours,’” said the Norwegian, who also trains by cross-country skiing.
Bouwmeester’s win was the Netherlands’ second sailing gold of these Games, following Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz’s victory in the women’s skiffs. Dutch windsurfer Luuc van Opzeeland also won a bronze, making the Netherlands the leading country in sailing medals so far.
Rindom won bronze in 2016 before her gold in Tokyo.
