Tokyo-bound Elliot Hanson hailed a historic success for British sailors after clinching his maiden Laser class European Championship title ahead of his two compatriots in Gdansk.
Hanson, 26, edged out long-term leader and childhood friend Michael Beckett in the penultimate race of the six-day regatta to top the podium, with fellow Brit Lorenzo Chiavarini taking third.
Beckett had to settle for European Championship silver, his second in three years, as Britain filled all three podium places for the first time at a major laser class championship.
It is also the third time in four years that a British sailor has claimed the European title following Rio 2016 Olympian Nick Thompson’s win in 2017 and Chiavarini’s triumph last year.
And Hanson, who won silver at Kiel Week last month, admitted being able to stand on the podium with his two teammates was even more special than winning the European crown.
“To lock out the podium with two guys I’ve been best mates with since we were 11 years old is something really special, and something I will hold on to for a long time,” he said.
“To have all three of us on the steps speaks volumes about the strength and depth of our squad. Enzo won last year, Thompo in 2017 and it’s really pleasing to win it myself this year.
“That said, if you’d have asked me this morning if I’d give up winning the event so that all three of us could be on the podium I’d have taken it. I wouldn’t have cared which one of us won.”
25-year-old Beckett from Pembrokeshire, had held the lead from early on in the regatta but a blip on the penultimate day allowed Hanson to close the gap and overtake him.
“The first four days of the regatta I felt like I could do no wrong, and then today we had building breeze and big waves, conditions I’m usually fine in, and I couldn’t get it right,” said Hanson.
“But I’m so happy that the three of us are here on the podium, and with Thompo [Nick Thompson] and [veteran British Sailing Team coach] Chris Gowers coaching us.
“We’ve definitely done something right this summer and I’m really excited about what’s to come.”
Bronze medallist Chiavarini, 26, has been recovering from a back injury since December 2019 and had only managed six days back in his boat for the European Championships started.
He opened his scorecard with two race wins to top the fleet and despite slipping to fifth mid-regatta, he recovered to finish third tied on points with Filip Jurisic - securing the bronze medal due to achieving more first place finishes than the Croatian.
“I’m over the moon, I couldn’t ask for more,” he said. “I came into the event with six days’ training since returning from injury so it’s really unexpected but I couldn’t be happier.
“A big thanks goes to everyone in the British Sailing Team who’s helped me get back in the boat again.”
Fellow Brits Sam Whaley and Dan Whiteley were 29th and 74th, respectively, while in the Radial fleet Hannah Snellgrove came home as top Brit in 18th place on her return after a year out.
Ali Young, who will join Hanson as part of Team GB in Tokyo, opted only to sail the opening two days of the regatta while Daisy Collingridge was 38th and Matilda Nicholls was 69th.
Picture credit: Robert Hadjuk/Shuttersail
Sportsbeat 2020