Jonas Warrer and Kirketerp Martin Ibsen from Denmark, who was listed the 49er gold at the Olympic sailing regatta, faced several protests?in Qingdao?on Sunday, which could have a major impact on the results.
Provisionally the Danish 49er team have won gold after finishing seventh in the race. However, they have been protested by the Race Committee after breaking their mast before the race got underway, returning to the marina and then competing in the race using the Croatian boat, according to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
With a big swell and stormy conditions with gusts up of 20 knots and more, the 49er Medal Race was simply incredible. The Austrians led for much of the race, with the Italians in second and the Australians third.
This put the Australians and Italians in a battle for gold and when the Austrians crashed up, the Australians took the lead and the Italians capsized, it looked like gold would go to the Australians. However they capsized close to the finish on the final run, the Spanish kept their boat upright and crossed the line in first.
If the Danes are disqualified, Spain's Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez, winners of the medal race, will have retained the title they won in Athens fours years ago. Germany's Jan-Peter Peckolt and Hannes Peckolt finished second in the medal Race and are provisionally winners of the bronze medal.
It is not known how long it will take to complete the protests and hearings, so the announcement of winners and the medal ceremony have been delayed.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2008)