Australian sailors shrug off Rio pollution concerns in chase of Olympic regatta gold

A GOLD medal in the regatta is the ultimate goal but, for now, Australia’s Olympic sailors are just happy not to see a floating fridge, a dead animal or even a body part the water.

Australia’s Tom Burton says fears about the pollution in the water in Rio might be exaggerated. Picture: Brett Costello

THE good news for Australian sailors on the opening day of the Olympic regatta is that there was not a solitary sighting of a floating fridge, a dead animal or even a body part.

All of them had been spotted in the nerve-racking countdown to the regatta in the scenic but infamously polluted Guanabara Bay.

No sailor came off yesterday dropping the old line “the water was so clear you could drink it’’ but there was cautious optimism that the Bay, scooped more times than an ice-cream can in recent days, was at a reasonable standard.

Australia’s Ashley Stoddart was pleased there was no rubbish in the water on the opening day of the regatta in Rio. Picture: Brett Costello

“I didn’t see any rubbish in the water – nothing that was going to influence my performance that is for sure,’’ said first time Olympian Ashley Stoddart who ran eighth and seventh in her two races to finish equal fourth on points.

“Obviously there is talk about what is in the water but you can’t see it so we don’t know about that.’’

The sailors seemed more concerned about the tricky winds than any submerged dangers.

Tom Burton finished 17th and eighth in his two races to be ninth overall and felt the course was challenging.

Australia’s Tom Burton says fears about the pollution in the water in Rio might be exaggerated. Picture: Brett Costello

“I didn’t really see any big tidelines with rubbish so it wasn’t too bad and the wind was much more of a factor,’’ Burton said.

“I have read some articles (about the pollution) and I think people exaggerate a bit. It is not great but it is not that bad.’’

Competition organisers have seven courses to choose from and it is believed if any of them have pollution issues they will swiftly change to another one.

Australia’s sailors won three gold medals at the London Olympics and are expected to shine again.

Rio Day 3: Aussies at the 2016 Olympics

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Originally published as Australian sailors shrug off Rio pollution concerns in chase of Olympic regatta gold