SAILING: Bryony sets sights on Olympic glory

8:00am Saturday 29th September 2007

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Oxford's Bryony Shaw celebrated her Olympic call-up by blowing an international fleet out of the water at the Scandia Sail for Gold regatta.

The 24-year-old picked up the gold medal in the women's windsurfing at the National Sailing Academy in Weymouth.

"The biggest focus now is on fitness. It's such a physical class so I will work hard on that"

Bryony Shaw

Shaw's triumph came just days after learning of her place on the plane to Beijing next year.

And after following up her selection with a comfortable win, Shaw has set her sights on Olympic gold next summer.

"Hearing that I was in the team was absolutely fantastic," she said.

"It's given me the confidence to get my head down and work for the gold medal next year.

"I have been campaigning for six years now so it is all coming together. I got the gold at the test event earlier this year so it is all going very well for me.

"I've come a long way from training at Farmoor Reservoir as a schoolgirl."

The former Cheney School pupil cruised past Spain's Blanca Manchon and Denmark's Jesper Nors to take the title for the second year in a row.

But Shaw admits the hard work must start now if she is to realise her Olympic dream in Qingdao next year.

"It has been a very hard week," she said. "We have had some pretty strong winds and it has been a good turn-out from the international girls, but I managed to stay consistent in all the conditions.

"The biggest focus now is on fitness. It is such a physical class, so I will be working very hard on that."

Shaw's medal ambition was backed up by Skandia Team GBR's Olympic manager Stephen Park.

"There will not be many fitter athletes travelling in the British team, in any sport, than Bryony," said Park.

"During the Olympics she's expending the energy it takes to run a two-and-a-half hour marathon every other day.

"She's worked hard on that side of her sailing."