Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson of Australia wave to spectators with the Australian national flag after the 470 Women Medal Race at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games sailing event at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, an-Olympic co-host city in eastern China's Shandong Province, Aug. 18, 2008. Australian pair Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson won the gold medal. [Xinhua]

The team of Australia (L) competes during the 470 Women Medal Race at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games sailing event at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, an-Olympic co-host city in eastern China's Shandong Province, Aug. 18, 2008. Australian pair Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson won the gold medal. [Xinhua]

Australian crew Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson completed an Australian double in the 470 fleets by being crowned the gold medallists in the women's two person Dinghy event at the Olympic Sailing Regatta here on Monday

Leading the preliminaries with an 18-point margin over the Netherlands, the Australian pair tried to block its nearest rival from the first mark, finishing 9th and 10th respectively. The Netherlands managed to escape the block to leave the Australians the last in the second mark.

While Brazil led the fleet in the third mark, the Netherlands rebounded to the 6th position. Brazil kept its advantage to the finishing line and Netherlands finished 5th.

Although Australia finished 9th in the medal race, its overall 43 points sealed up Australia's second gold medal at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center.

"When we crossed the finish line, we were screaming and crying and shouting. The feeling has not sunk in yet. We're still so stunned and we cannot stop laughing," said 22-year-old Rechichi from Australia on her first Olympic campaign.

"In the race, we pushed the Dutch behind and did a little match racing. Until the second upwind, they caught us and we got really nervous then. But our plan had already worked out, and we were guaranteed gold," said Parkinson, 21.

The total 53 points brought Marcelien De Koning and Lobke Berkhout from the Netherlands, world champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the silver medal. The bronze medal went to Fernanda Oliveira and Isabel Swan from Brazil with 60 points.

"I dreamed about this last night. It's a big step for us. We had to learn to adapt to the conditions here since it's not something we're familiar with," said de Koning.

The bronze medallist Oliveira from Brazil said, "I'm so happy about getting this medal. We've worked for this for three years, Monday to Friday. We dedicated our lives to sailing. We had placed around 7th in every regatta. It was not until last year in the Netherlands when we were ranked 2nd that we decided to come to Qingdao."

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)