Alison Young wins Laser Radial gold for Britain in World Championships
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 21/04/16 7:45am
Alison Young has become the first British woman to become world champion in a solo Olympic dinghy class.
The 28-year-old beat America's Paige Railey by a single point to secure Laser Radial gold with victory at the regatta in Vallarta, Mexico, where she took a convincing win in the 13th and final race of the event - her third win of the week.
"It was pretty tense in that last race," said Young, whose previous best at a world championship was fourth in 2012. "I managed to lead all the way round and I was lucky to have done enough overall.
"I've sailed pretty consistently through the week and it's been super-tight racing all the way through. Going into today, four or five people could have won the championships, which is the nature of Laser racing.
"It's really pleasing to have stayed consistent and kept executing towards what we've been working on, and for it all to come through in the end."
Young, who finished fifth in the London Olympics, has already been selected to compete at the Rio Games this summer.
"It's a great confidence boost, but ultimately this year is about the Games," Young added.
"There's still plenty of room for improvement and I know that come the Games there's going to be seven or eight girls battling it out hard for the medals so it'll be a case of executing well come that regatta."
