Barbara Kendall hails Ashley's gold

Barbara Kendall hailed Tom Ashley's Olympic gold medal as he joined her in an exclusive New Zealand boardsailing roll of honour here today.

A beaming Kendall bounced around the Qingdao boat ramp as the New Zealand team welcomed Ashley back to shore after winning the country's first sailing gold since Kendall in Barcelona in 1992.

It was New Zealand's third boardsailing gold - Kendall's brother Bruce won gold in Los Angeles in 1984.

Just hours earlier Kendall, 40, finished sixth in the women's fleet as she fell short in her bid for a fourth Olympic medal; she won silver in Atlanta and bronze in Sydney.

"It's just wicked to show that in windsurfing we're still one of the best sailing disciplines. Tom's had some great role models to follow, starting with Bruce, and now he's made it in his own space," she said.

"It's all been up to him, you can't claim anything, it's all been him.

"He's stayed calm, he stayed on the plan in his programme and hasn't altered any of those things.

"He's a very determined young guy that knows exactly what he wants and how he's going to get it, and he's never failed in doing that, never doubted his ability in being able to win.

"He's had meticulous training, he's young so he's fit and strong, and you have to be a bit psycho to be the best, and he is so it's perfect."

Kendall explained "psycho" meant being single-minded in training and preparation with no distractions.

"You've got to be really focused, extremely focused and nothing else going on in your life."