Tokyo 2021Olympics: Sailor Matt Wearn secures Australia’s 10th gold medal trumping Rio and London

The golden Games: Australia beats its London and Rio medal tallies as sailor Matt Wearn clinches gold two days before the final race

Australia has claimed its tenth gold medal at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, surpassing the country’s disappointing results at the London and Rio games.

On an action-packed day seven, sailor Matt Wearn secured a gold medal two days before the final race after taking an unassailable lead in the one-man Laser class.

Having started the day behind Cyprus’ Pavlos Kontides, the 25-year-old managed to win both of Thursday’s heats, putting him far enough ahead on points to clinch the event.   

Matt Wearn has secured Australia’s 10th gold medal after taking an unassailable lead in the on-man Laser class

Wearn kicked-off Friday’s race in rocky fashion, finishing 17th and 28th in the first two heats, but later finished second, fourth, second, second, first and first across the next six.  

The finishing position in every race is added to each Olympic sailor’s score with their worst performance discarded, in order to decide the medal finishing position.  

On Friday afternoon Wearn cemented an insurmountable 22-point lead after 10 races and must merely complete the course on Sunday without disqualification.  

The medal race on Sunday is worth double points but Norway’s second-placed Hermann Tomasgaard is unable to overtake him. 

25-year-old Wearn ensured gold for the Australian team when he finished eighth and 12th respectively in both of Friday's races.

25-year-old Wearn ensured gold for the Australian team when he finished eighth and 12th respectively in both of Friday’s races.

Australia won three consecutive gold medals in the mens Laser competition at both Rio and London’s games, with Tom Burton and Tom Slingsby as the country’s respective winners. 

On Friday swimmer Emma McKeon became Australia’s sixth gold medallist with an incredible victory in the 100m freestyle final.

Clocking an Olympic record of 51.96 seconds McKeon took the lead ahead of Hong Kong’s Siobahn Haughey, with fellow Australian Cate Campbell finishing the race at 52.52 to take home the bronze.

The Australian swimmers shared an emotional embrace after the thrilling race with Mckeon telling Campbell, ‘I’m so proud of you.’

Bronze medallist Cate Campbell and sixth gold winner Emma Mckeon after Friday's 100m freestyle final

Bronze medallist Cate Campbell and sixth gold winner Emma Mckeon after Friday’s 100m freestyle final 

On Wednesday, Ariarne Titmus took home two gold medals in back to back wins after taking out the 200 metre freestyle final.

The 20-year-old Tasmanian-born swimmer was a strong favourite going into the final against America’s Katie Ledecky, and produced another comprehensive swim to make it consecutive dominant wins over American Ledecky.

20-year-old Ariarne Titmus wins her second gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics taking out the 200m freestyle final

20-year-old Ariarne Titmus wins her second gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics taking out the 200m freestyle final

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