Goodison finally steps into the limelight

Posted: Tuesday 19th August 2008 | 9:15

PAUL GOODISON stepped out of Ben Ainslie's shadow this morning as he finally got his hands on Olympic sailing gold in the Laser class.

The 30-year-old was the three-time gold medallists training partner in Sydney, while four years later he agonisingly missed out on bronze by a single point as Ainslie this time topped the podium in the Finn class.

^{WATCH OUT BEN: Paul Goodison is charting a course for British team-mate Ben Ainslie}

But 48 hours after Ainslie won his third-successive gold and second in the Finn class it was Goodison's time to shine - and he didn't disappoint.

The 2007 European champion led going in to today's medal race and only needed to ensure he didn't finish last and Swede Rasmus Myrgren first if he was to return to Sheffield with a gold to declare.

And the Ulley Sailing Club member made it look easy as he finished ahead of Myrgren to top the podium and spark scenes of jubilation among the watching Team GB sailing team in Qingdao.

"It's amazing, it wasn't the most exciting way of winning gold but it doesn't matter," said Goodison. "The conditions have been tough all week so I just had to go out there and get the job done.

"It has been a testing a week but I have hung in there and delivered on the penultimate day and followed that up today.

"You go to every Olympics dreaming of gold and aiming to do your best and now I have done it and will be at the top of the podium.

"I've got to thank everybody who has been there for me along the way it's been a bumpy ride but I've done it."

Goodison won the first race of the day on Monday and finished fourth and sixth in the remaining two contests to stretch his lead to 18 points over Myrgren - with Gustavo Lima of Portugal just two points further back.

RELATED: Up and down day for Goodison

And after following that up with an assured display today Goodison, who turned professional in 1996, is delighted to fina lly banish the nightmare of four years ago and continue the tide of British sailing success.

"This means everything, to come back from all the heartache and prove to myself I can be number one, it was the dream and I am on the verge," said Goodison, who becomes GB's 13^th gold medallist of the Games and third in the sailing behind Ainslie and the Yngling girls.

"At the beginning of the week all the results were up and down, I didn't start off that well. But I managed to come good in the end.

"I thought I had a great day on the water, I nailed all the starts and held my nerve on the shifts. But the job's not over until we're finished and hopefully it will be a gold medal.

"After what happened in Athens I have been totally focused on coming back and making sure I didn't end up in that position again."

And despite looking forward to his 31^st birthday in November, Goodison refused to rule out defending his title on home soil in 2012.

"I think with London on the horizon it is hard to think my sailing career is over," he added. "It is an amazing opportunity to wear the Team GB vest in London."

GERARD MEAGHER