Paula Barceló Bids Farewell to the Games, and Nacho Baltasar Fights to Enter the Medal Race

It was a long day for the Spanish team in the waters of Marseille, where the sailor from Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Paula Barceló, and her partner Támara Echegoyen bid farewell to a difficult and tough competition with a resounding victory in the final race of the 49er FX class.

In iQFOiL, the sailor from Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita, Nacho Baltasar, heads into the last qualifying day with a chance to fight for a top-ten finish.

The wind once again overpowered the committee's intentions, with inconsistent direction and fluctuating pressure that caused numerous changes and adjustments throughout the day.

The sailor from Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Paula Barceló, and her partner Támara Echegoyen are saying goodbye to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after achieving a resounding first place in their last Olympic race, which confirmed the quality and fighting spirit of this team. Several mishaps during the championship and placements of 16th and 11th in the previous day's races left Echegoyen and Barceló in twelfth place in the final 49er FX standings, improving their ranking by five positions. They were nine points short of the top ten who will compete in the Medal Race tomorrow.

"It's a mix of emotions. We've had a very tough week, and finishing with a first place in the last race has been very special for both of us. We had mixed feelings because despite that first place, we were far from the result we expected and, above all, what we had worked for. Seeing everyone come over to congratulate us is very emotional because it acknowledges that this is our place. We leave with a good feeling, having shown our worth," explained Paula Barceló after finishing the races.

"The fleet and all the coaches came over to congratulate us, and that's something that fills me because it's not always achieved in the sports world to have the respect of each competitor and the coaches. There's frustration, anger, and sadness, but this is sports, and we can even enjoy the bitter part of what we truly experience on the water," added Támara Echegoyen.

The day for the men's fleet of foiling windsurfers began with a long delay after a lengthy wait at the marina. Conditions were not conducive to holding the marathon race, so four slalom races were held instead, with an average wind speed of about 10 knots. The sailor from Club Nàutic Sa Ràpita, Nacho Baltasar, started with a disqualification for an early start in the first race and then recorded finishes of 4th, 8th, and 12th, keeping him in thirteenth place overall, nine points short of the top ten. "Today we had four slalom races and started with an early start. It was a very tight start, and we did what we planned, to take risks, although we went a bit too far," Nacho confessed.

"I'm happy because yesterday I had very bad feelings, and today it seems to have improved, so I feel much stronger for tomorrow," acknowledged the "iqfoiler," explaining that "the equipment problems from yesterday, after the last-minute changes we had to make [due to a broken screw in the foil mast], we tried to trim on the boat, but a piece got damaged and had the opposite effect, that's why I was so out of control. It's the worst feeling you can have, not being up to the task. Today we fixed it, and we saw that we're in the battle. If we fine-tune a bit, we can fight for those chances in the Medal Series."

The program for this Thursday, August 1, includes five more races for the iQFOiL M, where Nacho will fight to advance to the Medal Series.

Diego Botín and Florian Trittel drew attention with three races to ensure their passage to the Medal Race under the best conditions. The difficult wind conditions prevented the Spaniards from securing and guaranteeing the medal before the Medal Race, but finishes of 15th, 12th, and 6th were enough to maintain the lead.

With this last result, Spain regained the lead, holding a five-point advantage over the Irish and an eight-point lead over the New Zealanders heading into tomorrow's races. The US team, with 12 points more than the Spanish, also has podium chances.

The Medal Race will be the deciding factor, a single race with double points, with the doors open for seven countries to compete for the gold. Spain holds the advantage.