Bronze for windsurfer Shaw

9:28am Wednesday 20th August 2008

Bryony Shaw secured Britain's fifth sailing medal of the Beijing Olympic Games, coming home second in the RS:X women's medal race to claim a bronze in Qingdao.

In a dramatic race, the 25-year-old came in 12 seconds behind Italy's Alessandra Sensini to secure third place overall.

Yin Jian claimed China's first gold medal of the regatta, coming home in third place in the race to pip Sensini, who won silver.

The Briton began the race in third place on the RS:X women's standings with 41 points, eight behind Yin and three adrift of Sensini.

Shaw, the winner of the Olympic test event in Qingdao last year, was over the line at the start but so were a number of others leading to a general recall.

But she got off to a good start second time around and led briefly before reaching the first mark in second place, 11 seconds behind Spain's Marina Alabau.

Shaw remained in second place at the second mark and took the lead on the third mark although a sluggish turn allowed the Italian to move ahead as the windsurfers approached the slalom finish.

There was drama when Alabau and Shaw touched at one of the buoys but it was the Spaniard who was penalised with a penalty turn for not giving the Briton the right of way.

Sensini pulled away on the run to the finish line but Shaw hung on for second to claim her bronze medal.

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