Britain's Ellie Aldridge wins the first gold in kitesurfing, billed as the fastest Olympic event

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Ellie Aldridge of Britain won gold after two close finals races in women’s kitesurfing, the new, fastest sport at the Summer Olympics.

“I hope it brightens everybody's spirits a bit after the week we had,” Aldridge said.

Fickle winds and high temperatures have wreaked havoc with the program and tested athletes’ endurance, confirming some champions but also creating surprise comebacks.

Going into these Paris Games, Britain held the most sailing medals in Olympic history but its only other medal in Marseille has been a bronze in windsurfing.

Lauriane Nolot of France won silver on Thursday, which the current world champion described as “a bit disappointing,” and Annelous Lammerts of the Netherlands took bronze.

“It's a dream,” Lammerts said. “I was battling a six-time world champion, so I knew there was no room for error.”

Lammerts was referring to Daniela Moroz of the United States, a dominant figure in the sport who placed fourth in the final race. She entered the competition having won consecutive world championships from 2016-2022.

In kitesurfing, sailors ride a surfboard that is harnessed to a parachute-like sail above while being perched on a skinny hydrofoil below. They can go so fast at times, foiling at speeds of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour that eclipse even the sprints of track cyclists.

Kitesurfing has a more complicated and nail-biting scoring system than other sailing classes, with points accumulated during multiple days of regattas having a smaller influence on medal chances.

Eight sailors made it to finals for the women's and men's medals, four by their overall standings in races held on previous days and four through semifinals, flying at speeds exceeding 30 knots (35 mph or 56 kph).

In the men’s, Toni Vodisek of Slovenia and Max Maeder of Singapore were joined by Valentin Bontus of Austria and Riccardo Pianosi of Italy.

One race in the men's finals was held, but the leader didn't seal it with a win, which went to Bontus instead. Since no race can start later than 5:37 p.m., the competition was pushed back to Friday.

“The weather doesn't play ball sometime,” Maeder explained.

The kitesurfing finals are the last of the sailing medal races scheduled in the 2024 Olympics in Marseille.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Lauriane Nolot of France celebrates on the podium after winning silver in the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Bruno Lobo of Brazil falls during the men's kite semifinal race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ellie Aldridge of Britain reacts after winning the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ellie Aldridge of Britain celebrates after winning the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Lauriane Nolot of France, left, Ellie Aldridge of Britain and Annelous Lammerts of the Netherlands take a selfie after the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Ellie Aldridge of Britain celebrates after winning the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Ellie Aldridge of Britain celebrates after winning the women's kite final race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Washington (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-2)

Monday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, ESPN

BetMGM NFL Odds: Bengals by 7 1/2

Against the spread: Commanders 1-1; Bengals 1-1

Series record: Tied 5-5-1

Last meeting: Washington beat the Bengals 20-9 on Nov. 22, 2020, at Washington.

Last week: Commanders beat Giants 21-18; Bengals lost to Chiefs 26-25.

Commanders offense: overall (10), rush (6), pass (19), scoring (17)

Commanders defense: overall (21), rush (16), pass (T22), scoring (29)

Bengals offense: overall (T24), rush (30), pass (16), scoring (T22)

Bengals defense: overall (20), rush (26), pass (T2), scoring (T15)

Turnover differential: Commanders plus 1; Bengals even.

QB Jayden Daniels, the Commanders' first-round draft pick, has completed 75.5% of his passes through his first two games. He is 40 of 53 for 410 yards, but has been sacked seven times, tied for third most in the NFL.

Joe Burrow was much better in Week 2 than in the opener. The fifth-year quarterback with a surgically repaired right wrist was 23 of 36 for 258 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals' 26-25 loss to Kansas City on Sunday. Washington has allowed 455 total passing yards over two games.

Commanders running game against Bengals defensive front. Washington rushed for 215 yards — including 133 by Brian Robinson — in Sunday's 21-18 win over the New York Giants. The Bengals are still struggling to stop the run and may not be able to do much better with injuries to key interior linemen.

Washington CB Emmanuel Forbes is unlikely to play following surgery last week to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, but he hasn't been placed on injured reserve. ... Cincinnati defensive linemen B.J. Hill and Sheldon Rankins suffered hamstring injuries in the game last week. They are likely to miss some time. The Bengals signed journeyman DT Lawrence Guy to help fill in.

In their first meeting in 1970, Washington prevailed 20-0 at home. ... The Bengals pulled off the longest win streak in the series, winning three straight in 2004, ‘08 and ’12. ... The teams tied 27-27 in a game played in 2016 in Cincinnati. ... Washington has won two straight in the series just once, in 1979 and ‘85. ... Washington has outscored Cincinnati in the series 244-224. ... This is the teams’ first game in Cincinnati since 2008. They played to a tie in London in 2016.

Daniels has also run 26 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns in his first two NFL games. ... Robinson’s 133 yards rushing against New York were by far the most of his career. ... RB Austin Ekeler has seven receptions for 99 yards to go along with 10 carries for 48 yards rushing. ... TE Zach Ertz is four catches from tying Jimmy Graham at 719 for the seventh most by a tight end in league history. ... The Commanders committed five false start penalties in the red zone last week, contributing to going 0 for 6 on those drives and settling for a field goal each time. ... Austin Seibert’s seven field goals against the Giants days after signing with Washington were the most in a single game in franchise history. ... DT Jonathan Allen is one sack away from 40 in his career. ... LB Frankie Luvu led the Commanders with 11 tackles against the Giants. ... The Bengals have allowed 319 yards rushing in the first two games. ... WR Ja'Marr Chase, who didn't practice during training camp as he awaited a long-term contract extension, has just 10 catches for 97 yards. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty last week killed a fourth-quarter drive. ... The Bengals are struggling to get their running game going. Zack Moss and Chase Brown have combined for 65 yards at Kansas City. ... TE Mike Gesicki was Cincinnati's top receiver in Week 2, making seven catches for 91 yards. ... WR Andrei Iosivas caught two touchdown passes, the first ones of the season for Cincinnati. ... DE Trey Hedrickson sacked Patrick Mahomes twice in last week's game.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin has only been targeted 12 times by Daniels so far, making eight catches for 39 yards. As their rapport continues to develop, McLaurin could be ready for a breakout game.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws a pass against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)