FINN LYNCH – Sailing

It says much about the standards that Finn Lynch sets for himself that he was probably slightly disappointed with this tenth place finish at the 2024 Olympic Games. The Bennekerry sailor went to Marseille, where the sailing event took place away from the majority of the Games in Paris, with hopes of bringing home a medal but even though that didn’t quite materialise Lynch still did superbly well in trying circumstances.

The sport of sailing is very much in the lap of the weather gods. Wind is obviously a crucial ingredient in competitive racing but was conspicuous by its absence through much of the scheduled week of racing.

Many of the races in the lead up to the final medal race had to be postponed due to a lack of wind but Lynch snuck into the final in the last of the ten available places in the men's dinghy class.

Although already too far behind to challenge for a place on the podium, Lynch was ready to take his moment to shine with the eyes of the world on the final.

But again a lack of wind struck and the final had to be pushed back 24 hours.

Eventually given the opportunity, Lynch grasped it with both hands and was second after a perfect start. When leader Jonathan Vadnai capsized, it left Lynch out in front but the wind picked a bad time to have a massive shift in direction, which led to the race being abandoned.

The race was eventually resailed and Lynch finished in eighth place, meaning a tenth place finish overall.

In many ways, it was a frustrating week for Lynch but after missing out on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, here he was competing with the best in the world at his second Olympics and showing that he could quite comfortably compete against such exalted company.