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Annalise Murphy was distraught after her final race. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Annalise Murphy: I'll work so hard and hopefully be ready to win at Rio 2016

The Laser Radial competitor fought back the tears after she finished just outside of the Olympic medals.

IRISH SAILOR ANNALISE MURPHY struggled to fight back the tears as she reflected on her final positioning of fourth in the Laser Radial standings.

The 22-year-old from Rathfarnham briefly led in Monday afternoon’s medal race before falling back to fifth after failing to pick up enough downwind speed.

The race, and Gold Medal, was won by Lijia Xu of China with Marit Bouwmeester (Netherlands) and Evi Van Acker (Belgium) nipping in ahead of the Irishwoman to claim silver and bronze.

Speaking to RTÉ soon after the race’s completion, Murphy admitted that it was ‘really hard’ to know she had just missed out on a bronze.

“Finishing fourth is definitely worse,” she said. “At one stage I was leading. At the end, to lose out when it was in my hands is tough.”

“I’ll try not to cry any more,” added Murphy as she attempted to articulate her feelings.

Tough opponents

Murphy added, “I lost out on the first downwind. I went left and got no wind; all the girls got by me.

“The three girls that beat me were all so good.”

The Dubliner said that the closeness of the top five sailors all week was emphasised by the fact that they made up the first five finishers in the medal race at Weymouth and Portland on England’s South West coast. She added:

It came down to everyone battling on the last (race) and it didn’t work out my way. It’s hard.

“I kept going left and got no wind. (Different tactics) seem so simple now, looking back.”

A week to remember, in time

Murphy said, “I had a brilliant week. In the first two days nobody could beat me.

I’m only 22. All the other girls are older than me. I’m going to work so hard for Rio 2016 and hopefully I’ll be ready then.

The National Yacht Club sailor, whose mother, Cathy McAleavy, competed in sailing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, paid tribute to her family and friends for their support and for shielding her from the clamour and hype back in Ireland.

Asked if she would look back on her close call for Olympic Gold, Murphy confessed, “It will be hard, for a while.”

Annalise Murphy finishes fourth in medal race to miss out on Olympic glory

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15 Comments
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    Mute Barry Doyle
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    Aug 6th 2012, 3:25 PM

    You’ll get it the next time. Country is behind you.

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    Mute Zartan
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    Aug 6th 2012, 3:31 PM

    Hold your head high Annalise, you’ve done us proud and you’re only going to get better in the years ahead.

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    Mute Rob Jones
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    Aug 6th 2012, 5:44 PM

    If she was a swimmer she would have 4 golds, a silver and a bronze. Format of sailing is a bit strange…

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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Aug 6th 2012, 6:14 PM

    No one can say anything negative about this girl, she was sublime and up against three of the best in the world, I was frigging dead proud of ya .

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    Mute Geraldine Sheehy
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    Aug 6th 2012, 6:34 PM

    Congratulation Annalise, ok, you missed out on a medal but don’t underestimate coming 4th. In your first Olympics – a fantastic achievement….be proud.

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    Mute Joe Loughrey
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    Aug 6th 2012, 6:42 PM

    Incredible performance. How much stamina and mental strength must it take to last a whole week in that sport.

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    Mute Dónal Keane
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    Aug 6th 2012, 8:37 PM

    4th in the world is a phenomenal achievement. Well done, Annalise!

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    Mute Hella Radwan
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    Aug 6th 2012, 8:10 PM

    Well done we are proud of you!!! ;-)

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    Mute Damien Aulsberry
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    Aug 6th 2012, 8:25 PM

    one of the most honest and hardworking performances of the olympics…its been an honour to watch and you will be a champion in rio

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    Mute Celly O'Brien
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    Aug 6th 2012, 9:39 PM

    What a mature attitude and no wonder she has a great mum and dad who love sailing as much as Annalise does and in 4 years time she will be in Rio and in her prime a brilliant example of what Ireland can produce when the right support is in place Sailing is a very weather dependent sport and its a gamble to go either side of a course but you did us all proud this week Miss Murphy head up high :)

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    Mute Martin Healy
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    Aug 6th 2012, 10:35 PM

    Wonderful sailor who has captured the hearts of the nation.

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    Mute ffunboy1970
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    Aug 6th 2012, 8:40 PM

    Well done

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    Mute Sam slade
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    Aug 6th 2012, 9:10 PM

    congratulations. now get yourself a real job, your best chance of winning anything has just sailed into the sunset. Better again, send katie Taylor sailing in Rio, she wont choke.

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    Mute Paul Conlon
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    Aug 6th 2012, 9:24 PM

    Put a sock in it A***olenWell done Annalise. I’m willing to use my name and tell you that I’m proud of your efforts for our country thank you.

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    Mute Celly O'Brien
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    Aug 6th 2012, 9:43 PM

    Slade you are a troll and a prize langar

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