If Stu McNay and David Hughes (USA) can win the Medal Race and the Australians finish last, the Americans will just sneak the bronze medal. Apart from that unlikely but not impossible scenario, the 470 Men's medals are wrapped up by the top three teams in the standings. It's just a matter of who wins what between Croatia, Greece and Australia.
Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) have been the class act of this four-year-cycle up until the start of this year. But in this Olympic year, Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) have since become the ones to beat after winning a number of major regattas including the 2016 World Championships. Most people still had the Aussies pegged as favourites going into these Games, but the Croatians have been exceptional in Rio, a sixth place being the worst score they have carried through from the ten-race qualifying series. After seeing their fellow countryman Tonci Stipanovic win Croatia's first ever medal in sailing yesterday, these childhood friends are looking to see if they can improve on Laser silver with a historic 470 gold.
Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis (GRE) have come on strong towards the end of the week and sit 11 points off the lead. Just two points behind them are the Australians so a case of who beats who to determine which of these crews gets the nicer medal.
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