Sailing silver for Aussie cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin in Nacra 17 at Rio Games
COUSINS Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin were hovering between elation and exasperation after storming to a silver medal today.
COUSINS Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin were hovering between elation and exasperation after storming to a silver medal today.
The good news was the Sydneysiders rose from fourth to second to win the Nacra 17 class on Guanabara Bay.
The frustration came with the fact that they were just one miserly point away from becoming the First Australians to win gold in the multi-hulled class at the Games, sailed as a mixed event for the first time these Games.
They knew they had to beat Argentinian legend Santiago Lange and his partner Cecilia Carranza Sarouli by five boats but only managed four after the Australians finished second and the Argentinians sixth.
“It is a little bit bitter sweet,’’ Darmanin said.
“I am not going to lie. But we sailed an incredible medal race. We could not have done any more out there.
“The Aussies obviously have a great multi-hulled background. They are all legends to us and they are all silver medallists. We are part of that group now.
It is a bit surreal.”
Australia has won five medals in the catamaran class at the Games — three silver and two bronze — but never gold.
The chance to crack the curse was very much in the minds of the young duo.
“That is probably the best finals race I have sailed in the last four years to be fair to us,’’ Waterhouse said.
“We gave ourselves a real opportunity. And that guy really deserves his win. Santi is 56 years old and has paid his dues in our sport. He is a legend. He has got four Olympic medals. Good on him. He is a great man.
“When I crossed the line I was so relieved we had won an Olympic medal. I was so proud of Lisa and I. We sat back and thought “OK, we have won a medal what colour is it going to be?’’
“We looked back and saw the Argentinians coming through and we were cheering on the Italians to get past him.’’
The cousins relished the week to the point when asked what his plans beyond the Games were, Waterhouse said “Tokyo right?’’ in reference to the 2020 Olympics.
Originally published as Sailing silver for Aussie cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin in Nacra 17 at Rio Games
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