Sailing: George Gautrey wins bronze at Laser World Championships after dislocating knee

George Gautrey in action at the Lazer World Championships.
George Gautrey in action at the Lazer World Championships. Photo credit: Yachting New Zealand

Kiwi sailor George Gautrey has claimed a brave bronze on the final day of the Laser World Championships in Japan, three days after dislocating his knee.

The 21-year-old's medal rounded off a good regatta for the New Zealand squad in Sakaiminato, with three finishing in the top 10 - Sam Meech was fourth and Tom Saunders 10th, while Australian duo Tom Burton and Matt Wearn finished first and second respectively.

But Gautrey came close to pulling out of the regatta after dislocated his knee during a "bad tack" and needed to pop it back in.

"I considered it might have been over when I dislocated my knee but I got in and spoke to the physio and she was pretty confident," Gautrey said.

"After having a day off hiking with a couple of light-wind days, it felt good today when I tried to hike on it. I think if it had been breezy for the last three days it could have been different."

Gautrey's bronze is his first at a major senior regatta and follows on from the promise he showed as a youngster when he won silver at the 2015 youth sailing world championships.

"To come away with a medal is pretty awesome but, for me, it's more about building from this and taking what I have learned to the next regatta. By no means is this the end goal.

"To win a medal here against the world's best is pretty awesome but when you look at the results on the last day I think about 15 boats could have medalled. To put myself under pressure and come out on top is pretty exciting."

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