Rio de Janeiro, Dec 21 (IANS) Isabel Swan and Samuel Albrecht secured the last two places in Brazil’s sailing team for next year’s Olympic Games after a thrilling final day of the Brazil Cup.
The duo’s seventh and 12th placings in their two Nacra 17 races at Rio’s Guanabara Bay on Sunday were enough to earn them a berth after other results went their way. Brazil’s Olympic selection criteria also included the recently completed South American championships, reports Xinhua.
Swan, who missed out on a place in Brazil’s team at the London 2012 Olympics, was overcome with emotion.
“I took part in the campaign for Rio to be selected as the Olympic host city so to represent my country at home is a dream come true,” said Swan, who took gold in the 470 women’s class at the Beijing 2008 Games.
“We performed well during the South American championship and that gave us a head-start in the Brazil Cup. It’s the culmination of years of hard work.”
France’s three-time world champions Billy Besson and Marie Riou won Sunday’s medal race, which comprised the best 10 teams of the regatta.
