Tokyo Olympics: Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre take GOLD in the women’s 470-Class sailing

Hannah Mills became the most successful female Olympic sailor in history by taking gold in the women’s 470 as Britain continued to rule the waves.

After a terrific Tuesday at Enoshima Yacht Centre that saw two golds and a silver for the British team – including a second title for Giles Scott in the Finn – it was Mills who took centre stage with her team-mate Eilidh McIntyre.

They came into the medal race with a commanding 14-point lead but even that margin of advantage can count for little with double points on offer and the tension ratcheted up. Scott nearly squandered a big lead before winning in the dying moments.

But Mills, 33, and McIntyre, 27, made it look relatively plain sailing here. They spent most of the race in second place but finished fifth, which was more than enough. 

There were a few minutes of concern after the French boat lodged a protest but this was dismissed by the officials and the win officially ratified.

Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre celebrate their gold medal in the women’s 470 class

Already assured of a medal entering the final race, Mills and McIntyre held their nerve for gold

The pair then leaped into the water at the Enoshima Yacht Harbour to celebrate the win

The French, who finished third to win bronze, had alleged that the British crew engaged in team racing to benefit the Polish pair of Agnieszka Skrzypulec and Jolanta Ogar, who took silver. 

Mills, who was one of the Team GB flag bearers at the opening ceremony, won gold in the class in Rio five years ago and took silver at London 2012. 

McIntyre, 27, emulates her father, Mike, who won gold for Britain in the star class at the 1988 Seoul Games.  

Mills and McIntyre won gold in the women’s 470-Class sailing at Enoshima Yacht Harbour 

Mills and McIntyre finished fifth in the medal race to secure another sailing gold for Britain

The victory continued a hugely successful two days for Britain’s sailors, with Mills and McIntyre making it three gold medals after success for Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell in the 49er and Giles Scott in the Finn on Tuesday.

It is the country’s second best Olympic tally after Beijing in 2008, when they won six medals, including four golds.

Mills joined forces with 27-year-old McIntyre when Clark retired following the Rio Olympics and the pair marked themselves out as the ones to beat by winning the world championships at Enoshima in 2019. 

There was disappointment, though, for 2012 silver medallist Luke Patience and Chris Grube in the men’s 470.

They were sitting second after eight races but dropped to fifth ahead of the medal race and that was where they finished after crossing the line in seventh.