The Cantabrian Berta Betanzos, who studied the first year of Sport and Exercise Science in the European University of the Atlantic has got the Olympic diploma in the 49er FX sailing test in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Berta Betanzos disputed the test in the same team as the Galician Tamara Echegoyen, and they got the seventh place in the medal race, which allowed them to finish the general classification in fourth place, almost touching the medals and obtaining the Olympic diploma. The Brazilian boat won the gold in this test, while New Zealand won the silver and Denmark the bronze medal.
The test has been equal all the time, since right before the final regatta, four crews were only one point apart from each other. In fact, the Spanish team was the co-leader, in parallel with the Brazilian team, but they made a bad start, which prevented them from improving and then saw themselves far from the first positions in the final regatta. Although the Spanish team reacted half way into the test, the Brazilian were favored because of their deep understanding of the regattas, in the Guanabara Bay.
Berta Betanzos studied the first year of Sport and Exercise Science in the European University of the Atlanticeven though this last course she was forced to take a break in her studies in order to prepare for the Olympic Games as well as for the 49er Class World Championship. Although luck has not smiled upon the Spanish team in Rio de Janeiro, truth is last Spring they became World Champions in North American waters, which speaks for itself about the high competitive level of both sportswomen.