Matt Wearn Wins Gold Again at the Paris Olympics

Matt Wearn has made history by becoming the first-ever back-to-back Olympic champion in the men’s dinghy event. This recent victory at the Paris Games means Australia has now secured its 15th gold medal of these Olympics.

The 28-year-old sailor has continued Australia’s impressive streak in this category, following in the footsteps of fellow Aussie champions like Tom Slingsby in London and Tom Burton in Rio 2016. Wearn went into the final race with a solid 14-point lead over his closest competitor, Pavlos Kontides from Cyprus, mirroring the lead Slingsby held in 2012 before winning gold.

Conditions on the water were challenging, with ultra-light winds causing delays at the Olympic regatta held in the Bay of Marseille. At one point, the race was abandoned shortly after it began due to an unexpected lull in the wind. Wearn was so close to securing his second Olympic gold, with just one lap remaining when the earlier race was called off.

Despite the pressure, Wearn showed his skills when the race finally got back on track, confidently earning his spot at the top of the podium. He finished the competition with a score of 40 points, proving that he’s a class above the rest.

This win marks Wearn’s second gold medal, adding to his victory in the men’s laser at the last Olympics in Tokyo. Pavlos Kontides earned the silver medal, making history himself as it’s the first medal won by a Cypriot athlete since their first-ever Olympic medal in the past Games. Stefano Peschiera from Peru took home the bronze, marking a significant achievement as it’s the first Olympic medal for a Peruvian athlete in any category since.