Aussie sailors in battle to rule waves in Rio after gold and silver start

AUSTRALIA may be looking to sailors to save the day in Rio but our team is losing the battle to rule the Olympic waves to an old and fierce foe, Great Britain.

AUSTRALIA may be looking to sailors to save the day at the Rio Olympics but our team is losing the battle to rule the Olympic waves to an old and fierce foe, Great Britain, and a surprise contender to the title.

Australia claimed top dogs status in London four years ago with a history-making haul of three gold and a silver.

But in Rio, the Brits look to have turned the tables on their traditional rivals on the high seas.

Tom Burton claimed Australia’s first sailing gold in Rio to break a three-day drought for the team

And The Netherlands are also making a move to claim the top mantle with two gold medals already won.

Sydney’s Tom Burton broke a three-day drought of medals by Australian athletes on Wednesday with his gold while sailing cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin chipped in with silver.

There is potential for two more medals in the men’s 470 class and the 49er skiff racing but our bid to match the two gold of the British in Rio is perilously close to being sunk.

Rio Day 10: Aussies at the 2016 Olympics

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Finn sailor Giles Scott collected Great Britain’s first gold with Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark all but wrapping up the 470 dinghy women’s gold with a race to spare.

Their windsurfer Nick Dempsey has also claimed silver.

The Brits also still have a chance of a medal in the 49er skiff class, the same regatta London Olympic champions and Australians Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen are bidding to win their second Olympic medal in.

Originally published as Aussie sailors in battle to rule waves in Rio after gold and silver start