Mills Yet To Steer Future Course After Golden Day in Rio

Hannah Mills has yet to plot course on her future after finally winning sailing gold for Great Britain in Rio on Thursday.

Mills became the third Welsh competitor to strike gold in Brazil when she and her crew partner Saskia Clark duly won the 470 class after overcoming a day of windless delays.

Clark, 36, is now sailing off into retirement, leaving Mills – eight years younger – still to decide her next port of call.

Mills said: “I haven’t thought about what happens next yet, because I just wanted to savour and enjoy the moment with Sas.

“Whether I will go for another Olympics in Tokyo in four years with someone else, or do something else, I really don’t know yet.”

Mills and Clark – who had to settle for silver in London four years ago – crossed the finish line in Guanabara Bay before sailing for the beach to celebrate with friends and family.

Mills added: “It’s just emotional. I just wanted to come and see my mum. She has made it out here, bless her, all the way to Rio and she’s been there the whole time supporting me with my family back at home.

“It’s just such an amazing moment. We have forgotten all about (the silver medal in) London. We are so proud to come back after it and we’ve worked so hard to get the upgrade to gold. Thank you to everyone back home for the support.

“It is all we have ever dreamed of and we are so happy.”

Mills and Clark, from Essex, held a 20-point lead going into the medal race after winning three times and never finishing below eighth in the 10 races in the first series.

The medal race had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but had been postponed until Thursday because of a lack of wind.

Only a disqualification or technical problem could have denied Mills and Clark, fourth in the world rankings, and they stayed out of trouble as they were eighth out of 10.

Clark said: “The first moment I sailed with Hannah, I knew we could do something special.

“We have been together through ups and downs and been with each other all the way.”

Slovenia won the final race but it was not enough to earn them a medal. The United States were in the bronze-medal position until a late mistake dropped them down to last place in the medal race, and seventh overall.