Big Ben makes history: Ainslie wins fourth gold to become best ever Olympic sailor
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Great Britain's Ben Ainslie became the most successful sailor in Olympic history after securing a fourth successive gold medal on Sunday.
The 35-year-old replaced Denmark's legendary Paul Elvstrom as the Games' most decorated sailor after triumphing on home waters in front of thousands of supporters in Weymouth.
Ainslie faced fierce resistance throughout the week from Elvstrom's countryman Jonas Hogh-Christensen, although he managed to finish ahead of the Dane in Sunday afternoon's medal race to increase his Olympic haul to four golds and a silver.
Hogh-Christensen came into the medal race with a two-point advantage over Ainslie, ahead of whom he finished in seven of the 10 opening series contests.
Flare player: Ainslie celebrates his fourth Olympic gold
The British sailor knew he needed to finish ahead of the Dane if he was to win gold, but could not afford to sail him down the fleet as that would give Holland's Pieter-Jan Postma a chance of winning gold.
That said, Ainslie was like a hunter tracking his prey as they awaited the start of the race.
The home favourite did not get off to the best of starts, though, and he failed to control Hogh-Christensen as the fleet separated heading up towards the first mark.
However, Ainslie rounded the top-mark in fifth - gold medal-winning position - with the Dane 17 seconds behind in ninth.
Neck and neck: Ainslie and Hogh-Christensen battle for position
The Macclesfield-born sailor had a great first downwind leg rounding the second mark just behind race leader Jonathan Lobert of France.
Hogh-Christensen rounded seventh and then went around the third mark in 10th, with Ainslie just a place ahead as he began to match race the Dane as Postma struggled.
The Brit was in control heading to the third mark and remained ahead of Hogh-Christensen, who attempted a breakaway on the last upwind leg.
Golden moment: Ainslie punches the air as he realises he has won
The tactic did not work as Ainslie stayed ahead around the fifth mark, but the Briton was ninth and Postma had moved into second - positions that would have seen the Dutch sailor win gold.
However, attention from New Zealand's Dan Slater put Postma off towards the sixth mark and he eventually finished fifth, while Ainslie came in ninth ahead of Hogh-Christensen to win gold in a medal race won by Lobert, who took bronze ahead of Postma.
'I am pretty speechless,' Ainslie told BBC Sport. 'It has been a tough week.
'There was amazing competition, especially from Jonas Hogh-Christensen from Denmark, but this was the time to do it in front of a home crowd.
Silver lining: Ainslie won silver in the Laser class at Atlanta 1996 as a 19-year-old
Golden moment: Ainslie with Iain Percy at Sydney 2000
Winning habit: Ainslie celebrates another gold medal in Athens
Three and easy: Ainslie with his Beijing 2008 medal
'I am just so glad for all the people that supported me over the years, all the people that came here to wave me on and all the people that have written in and supported us across the country.
'It has just been an amazing experience this Olympics and I can tell you that listening to a crowd like that makes a difference.'
Asked about his future and competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he added: 'You can never say never.
'I am not going to do a Steve Redgrave here, but I don't think I could sail again.
'It is killing my body so I would be very surprised if you see me in Rio and this would be the best way to leave - on top, with a home Olympics. You'll never beat that or get better than that.'
Flying the flag: Ainslie was jubilant after his success
BEN AINSLIE FACTFILE
1977: Born on February 5 in Macclesfield, Lancashire. His father, Roddy, sailed in the first Whitbread Round the World Race.
1996: Having won the European Championships and finished third in the Laser World Championships, he goes on to win silver at the Olympic Games in Atlanta aged 19.
1997: Finishes third in the Laser World Championships and takes bronze at the European Championships.
1998: Wins both the Laser European and World Championships.
1999: Ainslie is named British Yachtsmen of the Year and World Sailor of the Year, having won the Europeans and World Championships yet again.
2000: Sees off competition from Brazil's Robert Scheidt to win Laser gold at the Sydney Olympics. Also wins Laser Europeans and finishes third in the Laser World Championships. Named British Yachtsmen of the Year and made MBE in New Year Honours list.
2002: After spending 14 months with the 'One World Challenge' America's Cup campaign, Ainslie moves to the Finn class. He wins the first of what prove to be many World Championships in the division and takes the Finn Europeans. Becomes British Yachtsmen of the Year and World Sailor of the Year.
2003: Takes another Finn Gold Cup and another Finn European crown.
2004: Ainslie's dominance of the Finn class continues as he wins a second Olympic gold medal in Athens, Greece. Also takes the World and European crowns as he is named British Yachtsmen of the Year for a fourth time. Inducted into the Finn Hall of Fame.
2005: Ainslie racks up a fourth successive Finn Gold Cup and receives OBE. He also wins the Finn Europeans.
2008: After re-entering the America's Cup arena with Emirates Team New Zealand, he returns to the Olympic circuit to win an unprecedented fifth world title, European title and Olympic gold in Qingdao, China. He is named British Yachtsmen of the Year for a fifth time, World Sailor of the Year yet again and made CBE.
2011: Fights off tough competition to be selected for the British sailing squad in the Finn class. Year ends in controversy at the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Australia, where he is involved in an altercation with a media boat.
2012: In January launches Ben Ainslie Racing, a new team that will initially compete in the next edition of the America's Cup World Series along with plans to join ORACLE Racing for the defence of the 34th America's Cup. Having recovered from back surgery, he wins the Finn Gold Cup for a record sixth time in Falmouth, Cornwall.
August 5 - Wins fourth Olympic gold medal, triumphing in the Finn class on home waters off Weymouth at the London 2012 Games. With four golds and a silver, Ainslie becomes the most successful sailor in Olympic history.
1996: Having won the European Championships and finished third in the Laser World Championships, he goes on to win silver at the Olympic Games in Atlanta aged 19.
1997: Finishes third in the Laser World Championships and takes bronze at the European Championships.
1998: Wins both the Laser European and World Championships.
1999: Ainslie is named British Yachtsmen of the Year and World Sailor of the Year, having won the Europeans and World Championships yet again.
2000: Sees off competition from Brazil's Robert Scheidt to win Laser gold at the Sydney Olympics. Also wins Laser Europeans and finishes third in the Laser World Championships. Named British Yachtsmen of the Year and made MBE in New Year Honours list.
2002: After spending 14 months with the 'One World Challenge' America's Cup campaign, Ainslie moves to the Finn class. He wins the first of what prove to be many World Championships in the division and takes the Finn Europeans. Becomes British Yachtsmen of the Year and World Sailor of the Year.
2003: Takes another Finn Gold Cup and another Finn European crown.
2004: Ainslie's dominance of the Finn class continues as he wins a second Olympic gold medal in Athens, Greece. Also takes the World and European crowns as he is named British Yachtsmen of the Year for a fourth time. Inducted into the Finn Hall of Fame.
2005: Ainslie racks up a fourth successive Finn Gold Cup and receives OBE. He also wins the Finn Europeans.
2008: After re-entering the America's Cup arena with Emirates Team New Zealand, he returns to the Olympic circuit to win an unprecedented fifth world title, European title and Olympic gold in Qingdao, China. He is named British Yachtsmen of the Year for a fifth time, World Sailor of the Year yet again and made CBE.
2011: Fights off tough competition to be selected for the British sailing squad in the Finn class. Year ends in controversy at the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Australia, where he is involved in an altercation with a media boat.
2012: In January launches Ben Ainslie Racing, a new team that will initially compete in the next edition of the America's Cup World Series along with plans to join ORACLE Racing for the defence of the 34th America's Cup. Having recovered from back surgery, he wins the Finn Gold Cup for a record sixth time in Falmouth, Cornwall.
August 5 - Wins fourth Olympic gold medal, triumphing in the Finn class on home waters off Weymouth at the London 2012 Games. With four golds and a silver, Ainslie becomes the most successful sailor in Olympic history.
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