Beijing - Yin Jian of China won the women's RS:X windsurfing event in Qingdao Wednesday to give China its first ever Olympic sailing gold and take its tally to 44 gold medals overall. In the first event on day 12 Russian teenager Larisa Ilchenko used her usual tactics to win the inaugural 10 kilometres open-water Olympic gold medal.
South African amputee swimmer Natalie Du Toit finished 16th.
The 29-year-old Chinese windsurfer Yin, who won silver in Athens four years ago, kept her nerve to claim victory ahead of Italy's Alessandra Sensini and Bryony Shaw of Great Britain who took bronze.
Tom Ashley won the men's windsurfing event ahead of Julien Bontemps of France and Israel's Shahar Zubari.
In the first ever open-water 10km swim Ilchenko, 19, came from behind to pass the pace-setters Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten of Great Britain in the closing stages to add gold to eight world titles in the past years.
Du Toit, who lost her lower left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, came in just over a minute behind the winner.
"It would be great if she would get a separate gold medal. Hopefully she will win one day," said Ilchenko.
Du Toit didn't get a medal, but a Chinese picture with a swimmer on it from the regional government.
"For me the Olympics are a dream come true," said the 24-year-old. "I want to race against able-bodied athletes, I don't want anything free. I worked hard for this and don't want a free ride."
Du Toit said she was not fully satisfied with her result because she wanted to finish in the top five. But her cap got caught at a buoy and she missed a feeding stop which prevented a better result.
Ilchenko clocked 1 hour 59 minutes 27.7 seconds, with Payne beaten by 1.5 seconds in the silver position and Patten taking bronze, 3.3 seconds off the pace at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
The two Britons were happy with their choice to lead for most of the race as it kept them out of trouble in the often rough sport, especially at the buoys.
"This is swimming, not boxing," said Ilchenko in reference to "very aggressive swimming" from Brazilians Ana Cunha and Poliana Okimoto.
Patten and German fourth-place finisher Angela Maurer also exchanged some words. Maurer admitted "I am no angel either" while Patten said "that is part of the race" and "I got the medal."
All three medallists paid tribute to the courageous act of Du Toit, who had qualified for Beijing by finishing fourth at the world championships and will also compete at the Paralympics next month in Beijing.
"I find it very hard as an able-bodies athlete, she is an amazing role model. I have utmost respect for her," said Patten.
Payne named Du Toit "an inspiration that you can do whatever you want to do."
Du Toit struck a similar line, saying "I am not a campaigner, I am just realizing my personal dream. There were people who said it is not possible, you set the goal for yourself."
She said water was the best element for her and the disability and that you could not compare her case to that of double-amputee compatriot sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who competes with prosthetics and failed to qualify.
There were no morning heats in the Bird's Nest but Jamaican 100m sprint gold medalist Usain Bolt was due to go for his second gold in the 200m at 10.20 pm local time (1420 GMT) in the highlight of the evening's programme.
The women's hammer final and 400m hurdles final will also be contested.
