Kontides climbs to third in Olympic sailing

Cyprus star Pavlos Kontides has climbed to third place in sailing’s Men’s Laser class (ILCA 7) on the discipline’s third day, just two points behind the sailor in second.

Four more races are scheduled for Sunday and Monday in Marseille, with the final set for Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Kontides is currently on 42 points, after finishing in tenth and fifth place in Saturday’s two races.

Australian Matt Wearn is currently first with 18 points and Briton Michael Beckett is second with 40 points.

Kontides won the silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics in the Men’s Laser class, the first Cypriot athlete to win a medal in the Summer Olympics.

He also won the International Sports Prize World Athlete of the Year award in 2012.

Cyprus will be throwing itself into Sunday’s events with track and field athletes Elena Kulichenko, Milan Trajkovic and Olivia Fotopoulou, as well as cyclist Antri Christoforou.

Kulichenko is in the final of the women’s high jump and is aiming for a medal.

She is the first female Cypriot athlete to qualify for a track and field Olympic final.

Trajkovic will be competing in the men’s 110m hurdles and Fotopoulou in the women’s 200m, both hoping to qualify for the semi-finals.

Christoforou will be competing in the women’s cycling road race.