Get to know Team Volvo - Paul Goodison

Olympic gold medallist, Paul Goodison faces the challenge of defending his title in Weymouth this summer. Get to know the top laser sailor and Sheffield United fan as he heads back home to Sheffield for the last time before the games.

Goody's Blog

It was amazing seeing Weymouth brave the really horrible weather and come out to support the Olympic Torch on Thursday.

I have to admit that I ended up watching the whole thing through binoculars from the balcony of our team accommodation at Portland with the local news on in the background as I’d been on a strict rest day and had spent the afternoon chilling out watching the Tour de France. But after seeing it all unfold in the distance I actually wish I’d got all my offshore gear on and made the effort to get amongst it all because it looked really impressive.

There were so many people at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and on the beach and absolutely fair play to them because the weather was awful! I think that just reflects how much excitement has built up around the Torch Relay and the fact that the Olympics are going to be here very soon.

So much thought and attention to detail has gone into making the Torch Relay a success and speaking as an athlete who’s been to two previous Games, I know the great memories I have of the Olympic Flame being lit in the venues at Athens and Beijing. It’s actually a pretty powerful symbol for most athletes and I’m always on the BBC website seeing where the Torch has been going and how many people are involved and have come out in support.

Every day we have been going out sailing in the past week we have seen the rowers practising taking the Torch from the Academy across the Bay to Weymouth. It all just brings an added realism that we are getting very close now...

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