2024 Olympics sailing medal race descends into chaos after USA rivals make baffling mistake in the final stretch

The badge title for nan sailing arena astatine nan Paris Olympics took a disastrous turn, virtually and figuratively, erstwhile Dutch duo Odile van Aanholt and Annette Duetz made a melodramatic error.

While nan brace secured gold, they had to spell done a scare from what looked to beryllium a costly mistake.

Just meters distant from nan extremity of nan race, nan duo seemed to miscalculate nan decorativeness statement and began veering to nan correct and distant from nan checkered markers.

The commentary squad was puzzled by nan Dutch sailing distant from nan decorativeness statement - arsenic nan athletes seemingly thought they were successful nan clear.

'The Netherlands are successful nan lead,' described 1 commentator. 'United States are coming done successful second, but it's excessively little, excessively late. The Netherlands successful nan lead, taking it successful nan early stages of this race.'

The Dutch were approaching nan decorativeness pinch a sizable lead aft overcoming adversity successful nan race. However, erstwhile they started leaning right, nan second-place USA followed their lead. 

'And wherever are they going?' remarked nan commentator suddenly. 'Because nan decorativeness statement is marked connected nan near manus side! They're not excessively sure. I deliberation they deliberation they've finished!

'There was immoderate disorder connected nan course. We had it present and they've now had to travel backmost up to nan finish. America besides making a mistake. And this is huge.

While nan 2 teams astatine nan apical of nan heap mistakenly switched directions, it gave an opening for Sweden, who capitalized connected nan correction and yet crossed nan decorativeness statement first.

Unfortunately, nan aggregate scoring strategy could not get nan Swedish squad nan golden from winning nan last title alone. However, it allowed Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler, to snag nan metallic badge from nan Americans aft being near confused by nan Dutch.

Meanwhile, France's Charline Picon and Sarah Steyaert secured nan bronze badge finish.  

Despite nan monumental error, nan Netherlands avoided an agonizing nonaccomplishment aft nan judges calculated they had racked up capable points to bent connected to nan top.

'What unbelievable scenes connected nan h2o of Marseille,' a commentator stated. 'This has been an Olympics to remember.

'We person had 2 badge races abandoned. We person had boats sailing what appears to person been nan incorrect people for getting wherever nan decorativeness statement is reasoning that they've blown nan golden astatine nan past minute, moreover though they put successful a golden badge winning performance.

'They person been location for 5 minutes successful agony, waiting for personification to show them nan results. And it seems arsenic if it is now relief.