Go to Yachting Section

Go to Olympic Section

Go to Sports Section

Germany Wins Soling Gold

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Germany put the finishing touches Friday on its second Olympic Soling gold medal.

The team of Jochen Schuemann, Thomas Flach and Bernd Jaekel swept Russia in three races -- none of them close -- in the championship match.

But both crews were smiling and pumping their fists in the air, celebrating their country's medals on the final day of the regatta.

A little while later the U.S. team of Jeff Madrigali, Jim Barton and Kent Massey went through the same routine when they completed a 3-1 victory over Great Britain for the bronze.

About 600 fans on three spectator boats watching the bronze-medal match erupted in cheers and the California trio celebrated only the second medal for the Americans.

It was a disappointing showing for the United States, which had dominated yachting at Barcelona four years ago by claiming medals in nine classes.

The only other medal that went to an American this time also was a bronze. It was won by Courtenay Becker-Dey, of The Dalles, Ore., in the Europe class.

Schuemann and his crew also won a Soling gold medal in Korea in 1988. They finished fourth in Barcelona -- the first time the three-person keelboat class went to match racing to determine the medal winners. Previously only fleet racing was used.

The Germans also finished first in the fleet competition.

Schuemann also won an individual gold in the Montreal Games in 1976 when he captured the Finn class.

Thunderstorms once again delayed the racing, but only for slightly more than an hour. Thursday's semifinals had to be carried over until Friday morning, but both matches lasted only one race. Germany completed a 3-0 sweep of the British team of Andrew Beadsworth, Barry Parkin and Adrian Stead, and Russia swept the Americans 3-0.

The last-day matches were halted by another storm, this time with the Germans leading 2-0 and the Americans deadlocked 1-1 with the British.