Britain's Ainslie becomes top Olympic sailor

Ben Anslie is uncomfortable being called Britains greatest sailor since Adm. Horatio Nelson.This much is certainhes the most successful sailor in Olympic history.After trailing the entire regatta, Ainslie was spot-on with his tactics in the medals race and got a little help in the front of the pack to win the Finn class gold medal on a pleasant Sunday. It was his fourth straight gold and fifth straight games medal overall, eclipsing Denmarks Paul Elvstrom, who won four straight gold medals from 1948-60.Ainslie, the son of a sailor, pumped both fists, then stood up in his dinghywhich he calls Ritaand pumped them again after finishing ninth in the medals race. It was one spot ahead of rival Jonas Hoegh-Christensen of Denmark, who had led since the opening race a week earlier.A few minutes later, Ainslie did a victorious flyby along the shore, waving his own Union Jack at the crowd.Hoegh-Christensen slumped in his boat after finishing last. He took the silver.It was always going to be hard. It was the whole way through, Ainslie said. That race was certainly one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life, but thankfully I came through.Ainslie, 35, went into the medals race trailing Hoegh-Christensen by two points. But because the medals race awarded double points, they essentially were level. Whoever finished ahead of the other was going to win the gold, provided that Pieter-Jan Postma of the Netherlands didnt finish too high.With Ainslie pinning Hoegh-Christensen at the back of the fleet, Postma could have swooped in and won gold. Postma needed to get into third place to spoil Ainslies nautical coronation, but he hit the back of New Zealander Dan Slaters boat and had to do a penalty turn. He finished fifth.That allowed Frances Jonathan Lobert, who won the medals race, to take the bronze.Ainslies win saved the day for Britains strong sailing team.Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen of Sweden were the surprise gold medalists in the venerable Star class, leaving defending Olympic champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson of Britain with the silver. The Swedes won the medals race and then clinched gold a few minutes later when the British crew finished eighth. The bronze went to Brazils Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada, who took silver behind Percy and Simpson in Beijing.The Star has been dropped from the lineup in Rio in 2016, but theres a lobbying effort to get it reinstated.Expectations on Ainslie were enormous. Hed rallied before to win Olympic gold and he was sailing in home waters. After Hoegh-Christensen won the first two races and kept finishing ahead of Ainslie, eyebrows arched.Its always hard when people say youre a dead cert, that youre expected to win, Ainslie said. I knew that wasnt the case and I tried telling everyone, but no one seemed to listen to me.And then there was the bit about being called his countrys greatest sailor since Adm. Nelson, who was killed while leading his fleet to victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. A statue of Nelson rises high above Londons Trafalgar Square.Ainslie felt that comparison was hype.I didnt rescue the nation from the depths of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ainslie said. You do the best you can do in your style of racing.Being the best Olympic sailor is for real.I dont think that will ever settle in, Ainslie said. Its an amazing thing. But you talk about Paul Elvstrom, I mean, what he did all those years ago really revolutionized sailing. It was an amazing feat.Ainslie is in his element when things look grim.He was 19 when he took silver in 1996 in a bitter loss to Scheidt in the Laser class. Scheidt induced Ainslie into a penaltyat the start of the final race and then sailed to gold.It was the last time Ainslie didnt stand atop the medals podium.Four years later, Ainslie expertly exacted his revenge on Sydney Harbor to beat Scheidt for the gold.After moving up to the heavyweight Finn class, Ainslie had another remarkable performance at Athens in 2004.Disqualified from his second-place finish in the second race due to a protest by a French sailor, the British star fought back from 19th overall to win the gold.Since obviously it comes down to the crunch, right, and you have to make it count, Ive been very lucky in my career that when its really mattered, Ive done that, Ainslie said.In the medals race, Ainslie tried to hunt down the Dane in prestart maneuvers but Hoegh-Christensen got away. The Dane made a mistake by picking the wrong side of the course.I got ahead and then it was a matter of staying ahead of Jonas, Ainslie said. But the Dutch sailor, P.J., sailed a great race and got through and was close to taking the gold as well, so it was very nerve-wracking.Shortly after Princess Anne placed the gold medal around his neck and he stood at attention for God Save the Queen, Ainslie said this was likely it for his Olympic career.Later this month, hell begin sailing with Ben Ainslie Racing in the second season of the Americas Cup World Series, and then sail with defending champion Oracle Racing in the 34th Americas Cup on San Francisco Bay in 2013. Hed like to lead a British crew for the 35th edition of sailings marquee regatta.Hoegh-Christensen also is likely finished as an Olympian.It was a great week, bad day, Hoegh-Christensen said. No excuses. I did what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, it wasnt enough today.In the Star, Loof finally won gold in his sixth Olympics, to go with two bronzes.Percy, who was trying for his third Olympic gold, said he was gutted but praised the Swedes.These guys are unbelievable competitors, Percy said. Ive known Freddy and raced against Freddy for 20 years. Hes one of the nicest guys in the fleet, one of the best sailors in the whole circuit. One of the small things that puts a smile on my face is that hes standing with a gold medal after 20 years of effort. Brilliant guy.