Olympic champion Dorian van Rijsselberghe wins first Rio 2016 test event

Dorian van Rijsselberghe

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 8 (IANS) Olympic champion Dorian van Rijsselberghe won the gold medal in the men's RS:X sailing regatta - the first official test event for the 2016 Games.

The 25-year-old Dutchman finished fourth in the medal race in Rio's Guanabara Bay Thursday, enough to leave him 10 points clear of silver medallist Pierre Le Coq of France. Poland's Piotr Myszka took bronze, reports Xinhua.

Van Rijsselberghe, who won gold in the same event at the London 2012 Olympics, said the experience augured well for the Rio Games.

"It's good for my self esteem," Van Rijsselberghe said. "We've taken in some knowledge this whole week, from the wind, the waves, the current and all the little things you need to recognise next time you come back."

France's Charline Picon secured gold in the women's RS:X event with a day remaining. Picon has a 16-point lead after finishing in the top five in each of the first five races.