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Posted: 2024-08-07 15:19:53

Australia's Matt Wearn has finally landed his second gold medal, after he was forced to race the men's dinghy final twice, which was initially abandoned close to the finish.

Wearn has extended Australia's golden run in the class, taking out the title for the fourth consecutive Olympics.

His two medals follow the victories achieved by Tom Burton in Rio 2016 and Tom Slingsby at London 2012.

The 28-year-old West Australian became the first back-to-back Olympic champion in the event.

Matt Wearn competing in the men's dinghy medal race.

Wearn had to overcome several delays before clinching his second consecutive gold.(Getty Images: Clive Mason)

He had to work for it with the shifting winds in Marseille on Wednesday (local time) doing him no favours.

Already delayed by a day, Wearn was minutes from collecting gold when the race was called off due to failing wind with just one leg left to complete.

The race was re-run about 30 minutes later, with the podium positions confirmed.

ABC Sport is live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics

Heading into the double-point medal decider, Wearn's 14 -point lead meant he had already locked up at least a silver medal and could only be overtaken by Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus.

Wearn made no mistake, crossing the finish line in first place.

Kontides was second in the medal race to take silver while Peruvian Stefano Peschiera was third overall.

Matt Wearn pumps his fists as he wins gold at Paris Olympics.

Wearn won the medal race to finish off a magnificent regatta.(AP: Carolyn Kaster)

In their first outing on Wednesday, Kontides' ambitions of challenging Wearn were all but ruined at the start.

In the restart following a general recall, Kontides picked up a penalty and had to carry out a 360 degree turn, which left him at the back of the fleet.

Wearn started well but decided to play it safe in the congested water and not challenge for the lead but just keep ahead of Kontides.

In the scramble in the light winds it paid off with race leader Hungarian Jonatan Vadnai capsizing.

With Wearn sitting comfortably and gold in sight, the flag came out to signal the race had been abandoned and would need to be re-run.

In the women's dinghy, which was successfully completed, Marit Bouwmeester of the Netherlands won gold, marking the fourth straight Games in which she has reached the podium.

AAP

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