Shirley Robertson, the third gold medallist from Team GB sailing, delayed her return to the UK to take an extended holiday down under after one of the most challenging regattas of her life.
The 33 year-old yachtswoman, who lives yards away from her equally famous colleague Ellen Macarthur in Cowes, won gold medal in the women's single-handed Europe class, at her third attempt in the Olympic Games.
In Atlanta, she came fourth, finishing just one point adrift of bronze medal position and she vowed that next time, there would be no misses. In the intervening four years, she has sailed almost full-time, mixing her Europe sailing with match racing regattas accompanied by an all-female crew.
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