Rio 2016: Cancer survivor Lange sails to glory

Argentine helmsman Santiago Lange and crew Cecilia Carranza Saroli won gold in the Nacra 17 mixed-sex catamaran class after a fast medal race that saw wind pick up smartly on the Pao de Acucar course on Guanabara Bay.

Lange, 54, the oldest sailor at the event, overcame more than his rivals on the water to win. A year ago he lost a lung to cancer.

He credited his sons Yago and Klaus, representing Argentina in the men’s 49er two-person skiff, for helping him build his strength and confidence to compete again.

“They were a great inspiration to me, my strength,” he told reporters.

“For the first time they were able to join me at a medal ceremony.”

One of Latin America’s most legendary sailors — many of the region’s young prospects learn on the Optimist-Class dinghies made by his company — Lange is competing in his sixth Olympics but first since 2008. The medal is his third, after winning two bronze medals in the now discontinued Tornado catamaran class.

Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin of Australia came within a single point of gold but their second-place finish was not enough to close the gap built up with Lange and Carranza Saroli in the 12 preliminary races before the medal round.

Bronze went to Austria’s Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank, marking their country's first medal of the Rio 2016 Games.