Paris 2024: Christchurch iQFoil windsurfer Emma Wilson guaranteed an Olympic medal

Christchurch windsurfer Emma Wilson has secured a medal for Team GB at Paris 2024.

An Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo, Wilson’s dominant showing so far has guaranteed that she will add another Olympic medal to her collection after topping the standings ahead of the regatta’s final race.

That final was due to happen today (Friday) but slight winds have seen its postponement until tomorrow.

Wilson has secured a direct spot in the final with her first-place finish. Those finishing second and third will advance to the semi-final, while sailors in fourth to 10th will contest the quarter-final.

Wilson has been in imperious form, winning eight of the 14 races. Her worst score to count, with the two lowest being deducted from the overall, is a third-place finish.

With low winds in Marseille, the final two races were cancelled to confirm that Wilson had done enough to stand on the podium. All that’s left to be decided is the colour.

Wilson is competing in one of the newest sailing events at Paris 2024, the iQFoil. This replaced the windsurfing category, in which Wilson came third last time out.

The 25-year-old former Ballard School pupil finished with a 31-point lead over second-place Sharon Kantor of Israel, while Italy’s Marta Maggetti was 21 points further back.

Wilson, who won bronze and silver in the two most recent world championships, added: “It’s really cool to be guaranteed a medal. It’s the best we can get in this format, so I’m really happy.

“I just took it race by race and believed in my training that I’ve done all year, for the last three years. Just to perform how I’ve done this week at the Olympics is pretty cool.

“Every condition suits me, so I wasn’t too bothered by what we got. Just tried my hardest.

“I don’t approach tomorrow differently. I go have food and physio and come back tomorrow like I have all week as it’s been working.”

The windsurfing schedule also suffered a turbulent Thursday after the medal races were abandoned over a lack of wind. The men’s skiff decider was abandoned after two attempts.

Wilson follows in her mother Penny’s footsteps, who placed in the top 10 in windsurfing at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.