Essex sailors hoping for success (From Thurrock Gazette)

Saskia Clark dreaming fo medal

10:27am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Sport

OLYMPICS: ESSEX's gold medal hopeful Saskia Clark gave a kiss of luck to her boyfriend Paul Goodison yesterday as he prepared to head out to sea to revive his own flagging medal hopes, writes Graham Marshall.

The pair are dreaming of both winning Olympic sailing gold medals.

But those chances looked to have evaporated after Goodison revealed he is struggling with a back injury.

Goodison – who suffered the injury as he finished 23rd in Monday’s second Laser race in the London 2012 regatta – hauled himself up from 12th to sixth in the overall standings after yesterday’s two races, despite the pain.

Colchester-born Clark will begin her Olympic journey tomorrow, sailing with Hannah Mills, hoping to still be in contention when it comes to the medal race on August 10. The duo are tipped for medal glory after taking gold in the 470 World Championships in Barcelona.

Meanwhile the work of the physios in getting Goodison back on the water so quickly was praised by the Olympian. He said: “On Monday night I could hardly bend down and the physios did a fantastic job. “But when you’re in so much pain, trying to focus and make good decisions is difficult.”

He said having Clark’s support off the water at times like this has proven invaluable.

He said: “I think for me personally it would be impossible to have a relationship with someone outside that bubble and it would be impossible for that person to understand too.”

Yesterday he faced races five and six and will be looking to fire on all cylinders in the final races on Friday and Saturday as he bids to make the medal race on Monday.