– Niall Kelly reports from Marina da Gloria, Rio de Janeiro
A STUNNED ANNALISE Murphy joined the list of Irish Olympic greats as she won sailing silver in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.
The Dubliner put her heartbreak of four years ago to bed as she took second place overall in the laser radial — Ireland’s first medal at the Olympic regatta since Moscow 1980.
“I’m kind of just a bit shell-shocked,” she said.
It’s incredible to come here today and get a silver medal after four years ago when I was fourth and completely heartbroken. It’s a completely different feeling. I’m just delighted.
After a rock-solid week of racing in often treacherous conditions, Murphy lay in third place overall going into the medal race, which was due to take place on Monday.
Sailing conditions forced the finale to be postponed by 24 hours but the delay didn’t faze the Dubliner who attacked from the off.
I went out today knowing that I couldn’t treat it any differently from any other race. I was just going to attack it and not be afraid of losing because that’s what happened four years ago — I was afraid of losing instead of trying to win.
“I just went out and attacked the race. I sailed pretty well. It was light winds so it’s not conditions that really suit me but I proved I was able to do it.
“I think I was in gold medal position for a while. I lost out a little on the last downwind but I’m just delighted.”
It was the sweetest moment for Murphy who won the first four races in Weymouth in 2012, and started the medal race in third place, but slipped out of the medals and finished up empty-handed and devastated.
Four years on, she conceded that she didn’t always believe that a podium place was within her grasp.
No! At the start of this year, I thought maybe my best was past me.
“To be able to come back when it actually mattered and get a result in a really difficult week of racing, I’m just so happy.”
