Ainsle as good as Phelps

BBC news

Olympics chief Jacques Rogge says Ben Ainslie's achievement in winning a third sailing gold is the equal of Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt's heroics.

Britain's Ainslie won gold in the Finn class for the third straight Games, but Phelps and Bolt dominated the headlines with more high-profile performances.

In an exclusive interview with BBC sports editor Mihir Bose, Rogge said Ainslie deserved greater recognition.

"For me, his achievement is as valid as Phelps or Bolt," said Rogge.

Phelps and Bolt are likely to leave China as the two faces of the Beijing Olympics.

"I don't like to compare athletes from different sports, but Ben Ainslie competes in a boat class where he can only win one medal," added International Olympic Committee president Rogge, who competed in the sailing in the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Games.

"The others (Phelps and Bolt) can win two, three... all the way up to eight. What they do is fantastic, but what Ainslie does is equally fantastic."

Britain have surpassed all expectations in Beijing, with canoeist Tim Brabants winning their 18th gold of the Games on Friday to keep them in third place in the medal table.

was going to say the same thing, but with any luck people will agree with him, on another point, if the head of the IOC is a sailor how in god's green earth did we manage to LOOSE a sailing event from the olympic program?!? funny old world!

Originally posted by Phil eltringham if the head of the IOC is a sailor how in god's green earth did we manage to LOOSE a sailing event from the olympic program?!?

Its a damn sight easier to get other sports to accept unwelcome truths if you've been seen not to favour your own...