Pontus wins World Cup bronze | Austrian Olympic Committee

The final of the top four entrants was also decided after the first race: defending champion Max Mader of Singapore won the race and – because he was the first in the inaugural series to win two races – also won the overall race.

Pontos came in second place in the final round, in which Axel Mazzella and Riccardo Pianossi were involved in a collision and fell early. This means that he overtook Frenchman Mazzella in the overall standings, as both finalists did not win a race and therefore the best position from the last race was counted.

“I haven't quite realized it yet. There's a lot on my mind – and I haven't really enjoyed it at all because I'm going back to Vienna this evening. I'm of course very satisfied and I can't imagine the week would be better,” Pontus said. “It feels very good going into today.” “The last one is in fourth place and then we finish it with a medal.” “The World Cup medal gives us a final push. It shows that we are doing things right and that we are among the best in the world. “So we are ‘ready’ for the Games and we want to keep our chance of winning a medal there for us.”For as long as I can, the last two and a half months have been very hard work for my team and I will give my best, I am looking forward to it and I am ready to take the final steps.

Matthias Schmid, OeSV Sports Director on Pontos winning a medal: “For Valentin Pontos to win a bronze medal at the World Cup is a very special joy. Valentin has proven – like no other – in the last two and a half years how far you can go if you've worked hard.” He was organized and did everything accordingly in the last major events. This time he did everything well tactically from the start and kept his nerve even in pressure situations. The performance in the last race was on point tactically, so he deserves that bronze medal “It shows that he is in good shape for the Olympic competition in Marseille and that he also has the right materials at hand – especially since we still have a few weeks of training ahead. A great joy for Valentin, but also for the entire national sailing team. We have a great team together.”