Rio de Janeiro: Olympic champion Dorian van Rijsselberghe won the gold medal in the men`s RS:X sailing regatta - the first official test event for the 2016 Games.
The 25-year-old Dutchman finished fourth in the medal race in Rio`s Guanabara Bay Thursday, enough to leave him 10 points clear of silver medallist Pierre Le Coq of France. Poland`s Piotr Myszka took bronze, reports Xinhua.
Van Rijsselberghe, who won gold in the same event at the London 2012 Olympics, said the experience augured well for the Rio Games.
"It`s good for my self esteem," Van Rijsselberghe said. "We`ve taken in knowledge this whole week, from the wind, the waves, the current and all the little things you need to recognise next time you come back."
France`s Charline Picon secured gold in the women`s RS:X event with a day remaining.
Picon has a 16-point lead after finishing in the top five in each of the first five races.
First Published: Friday, August 8, 2014, 18:04
