Patience forced to wait to find out Olympic fate as race postponed

Delay: The British pair had been due to race on Thursday.

Aberdeen’s Luke Patience will have to wait to find out his Olympic fate.

Patience and his sailing partner Stuart Bithell had been scheduled to race in the 470 decider on Thursday but the race was put back to Friday due to a lack of wind.

Australians Matthew Belcher and Malcolm Page are favourites for the title, but the British pair go into the race at Weymouth’s Nothe course full of hope.

Patience, 26, could become the north-east’s fourth gold medallist, following the successes of Heather Stanning, Tim Baillie and Katherine Grainger.

Before the race Patience, who was born in Aberdeen and is now based in the Olympic sailing venue of Weymouth, on the south coast of England, said: “We have sailed the regatta of our lives so far, so bring it on. I can't wait and we didn't come here for second place.

"It will be tough, but at least there is a chance for us to upgrade our medal, so we will give it everything that we have.

"It has already been the best week of my life, but I'm hoping that the best is yet to come. I feel so privileged and excited to have been selected for Team GB in the first place, but I'm not just here to wear the T-shirt. I want to do the country proud and that means doing everything possible to win a gold medal."

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