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Shaw: Bronze medal
"It was such a hard race and such a hard week, and I'm just so happy - it's the best thing in the world."
Bryony Shaw
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Briton Bryony Shaw took bronze in the RS:X windsurfing class on Wednesday, but men's medal hopeful Nick Dempsey missed out.
Needing to finish in the first three in her medal race to be assured of a medal, the 25-year-old Shaw claimed second despite a close encounter with her Spanish rival Marina Alabau on the race for home.
The pair touched as they turned but the judges penalised Alabau, virtually ending her chances of pipping Shaw to bronze.
Shaw's second-placed finish could have seen he climb further up the standings, but the results of her closest rivals ensured she had to settle for bronze.
"I'm just so happy," she said. "Thank you to everyone for supporting me.
"It was such a hard race and such a hard week, and I'm just so happy - it's the best thing in the world."
China's Yin Jian, the overall leader at the start of the day, held on for gold by taking third place, which proved just enough to secure the title - China's first ever in sailing.
Agonising
Her main rival Alessandra Sensini did all she could to change the standings by winning the final race of the series but Yin's third place saw her hold off the Italian's challenge by a single point.
Shaw's third position brought Team GB their fifth medal of the sailing regatta at Qingdao.
However, Dempsey could not make it six as he finished an agonising fourth overall in the equivalent men's class.
The Briton started the day in the silver-medal position, knowing a top-four finish in the medal race would secure him a medal to add to the one he won in Athens four years ago.
However, he could finish only seventh on the day and with Israel's Shahar Zubari taking second, he slipped off the podium.
Punished
The fact that the race was shortened due to light winds did not help his cause and that left the Briton frustrated.
"It was all pretty close going into the first beat and I knew exactly where I had to be but with the race being just one lap, it was all a bit short and a bit rushed,'' he said.
"Because it was so close, you had to go for it. I went for it and I got punished a little bit.
"You only had to be slightly out of contention round the first mark and that's the race over really. It's just a shame it was one lap.
"This week's been excellent really. I sailed brilliantly this week and it's just a shame that today went the way it did.
Champion
"Another day, it could have gone another way. Another race, another lap it could have been different but that's the way it goes and that's the Olympic Games."
New Zealander Tom Ashley was crowned Olympic champion courtesy of his third-placed finish which was enough for him to pip France's Julien Bontemps to gold by one point.
Team GB still have a chance to make it six medals from the regatta as Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson are well placed to medal in the Star class.
The British pair finished first, second and sixth in their three races on Wednesday and remain second in the medal standings, just two points behind Sweden.
They need only finish in the top eight in Thursday's medal race to secure a podium place, but will doubtless by going for gold.
Meanwhile, Leigh McMillan and Will Howden finished second, third and 12th to qualify for the Tornado medal race but are out of contention in ninth place overall.
