Sailing: Chris Grube diary part six – Maybe we tried too hard

Dec 15 2011 Chester Chronicle

Chris Grube and sailing partner Nick Rogers are battling to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Selection hinged on the pair’s performance at the World Sailing Championships in Australia, from where Chris has been writing a weekly diary for Chronicle readers

THE World Sailing Championships finished on Sunday with the final medal race.

The top 10 teams in the championship battle it out in a race for double points. We had a great start to the series, pulling up to fifth overall and within striking distance of the medal we came for.

However, a poor second-to-last day saw us unable to consolidate our good race positions, dropping us to seventh and with too many points to reach the podium.

The medal race is amazing to be a part of. Huge media focus, stands full of cheering crowds lining the harbour. This is why I compete.

I love the pressure and the adrenaline, but ninth in the medal race dropped us to 10th overall, a sad end to a competition we have fought so hard for... maybe too hard.

Hindsight is really tough to deal with, and as an athlete it’s hard not to wonder what could have been.

We finished as the second Brits here but we have proven we are top at the Olympic venue in Weymouth. Now it’s just a waiting game to see if the Olympic selection trials continue – the longer they go on, the better we become.