What a start from Annalise Murphy.
The team Ireland sailor got off to the best start possible by winning her first race in the women’s laser radial in Rio on Monday.
Murphy started strong by breaking taking up the seventh spot after the first mark. From there, she only moved forward through the pack as she stormed into third place behind China’s Lijia XU and Gintare Scheidt of Lithuania.
She then moved into second place before swiftly moving into first, a lead she held until the end of the race. Scheidt crossed the line in second place but was disqualified and as a result, Belgium’s Evi Van Acker, who pipped Murphy to the bronze medal at London 2012, took the second spot.
.@Annalise_Murphy wins Race 1 of Women's Laser Radial #Sailing. Great start for #TeamIreland ahead of #BEL & #CHN pic.twitter.com/YeyifsEpIY
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 8, 2016
There was less joy for the Dubliner in her second race as she struggled under the windy conditions in Rio. Murphy crossed the line in 14th place, leaving her fourth in the overall standings.
It’s still early days in the event as Murphy will have to compete in 10 races in total with the medal race coming next Monday.
