(L-R) Bronze medalist Shahar Zubari of Israel, gold medalist Tom Ashley of New Zealand and silver medalist Julien Bontemps of France pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony of RS:X Men of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Sailing event in Qingdao, Olympic co-host city in east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 20, 2008. (Xinhua/Song Zhenping) Photo Gallery>>>

    QINGDAO, east China, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tom Ashley of New Zealand snatched the gold medal of RS:X Men at the Olympic Sailing Regatta here on Wednesday.

    Tom Ashley, also the reigning World Champion, sailed a near flawless medal race. It is the first Olympic gold medal in sailing won by New Zealand since Barbara Kendall's victory in the Women's Windsurfer event at Barcelona 1992.

    Placed third into the medal race, Tom Ashley finished second by the first mark and was left behind by Israel at the second mark with a 12-second margin. He maintained his position and sailed steadily to the finishing line, totaling 52 points overall to claim the title.

    "I've done it. It's the most incredible feeling and I can't begin to tell you how I feel right now," Ashley said. "It was an insanely tough medal race -- the weather gave us a little bit of everything, but I tried to sail as consistently as I could."

    "My feelings this morning were complicated. All the competitors' points were very close. I'm not surprised to see Shahar (of Israel) sitting here. Unfortunately, Nick (of Britain) didn't get any medal, but that's life -- there are only three medals," he said at the press conference.

    Frenchman Julien Bontemps finished one place behind Ashley in today's medal race to take silver with 53 points overall.

    "This has been my dream since I was a child," said Bontemps, adding that "not only the coaches, but also my whole team, including my physiotherapist, were very supportive of me over the 15 years of my training and trying to win a medal."

    The bronze medal went to Shahar Zubari of Israel with 58 points.

    "I feel so happy. I'm only 20 and I feel like a superstar. I was lucky to have the wind on my side today. When I finished, I counted back and realized I had won bronze. I was crazy with joy," Zubari said.

    Chan King Yin of Hong Kong, China won the medal race and lied sixth overall with 84 points. 

Sailors compete during RS:X Men Medal Race of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Sailing event in Qingdao, Olympic co-host city in east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 20, 2008. Tom Ashley of New Zealand won the gold medal in the event. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>