Although JOLLY and JEWELL were by no means the first women to win gold at the Olympic Sailing Competition, they where the first solely female crew to do so. Eighty years ago at the London 1908 Olympic Games, Frances RIVETT-CARNAC (GBR) was part of the gold medal winning crew in the 7 Metre event. In 1920, Dorothy WRIGHT (GBR) also won gold, again as part of a 7 Metre crew. Eight years later and Virginie HERIOT (FRA) became the third female sailing gold medallist as part of the successful French 8 Metre team.

Another medal followed in 1936 with Dagmar SALEN (SWE) winning bronze in the 6 Metre class, whilst in 1952 Emelyn WHITON (USA) won gold in the same class and Vibeker LUNDE (NOR) won the silver as part of a crew of three in the 5.5 Metre.

In the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, women had their own sailing event for the first time. Twenty-one crews lined up for the event, sailed out of Busan in strong winds and currents. JOLLY and JEWELL were not amongst the favourites for honours, but had put in long hours training and spent time honing their skills fleet racing in Snipe regattas.

The hard graft was to pay off and the American duo took a substantial lead into the final race, needing only to finish mid-fleet to ensure they took the gold medal. With an uncertain forecast for the last day of racing, JOLLY and JEWELL elected to set up their 470 for medium winds, rather than the light winds that had prevailed so far. When the wind suddenly increased during the race – going from just below 10 to up to 30 knots – they were able to take full advantage, rounding the leeward mark in fourth place with their grip on the gold medal looking secure.

Then disaster struck as they suffered gear failure that sent them tumbling down the fleet. Their jib halyard wire had snapped and after repairing if the Americans found themselves relegated to the back of the fleet. In the big waves and wind, JOLLY and JEWELL made a massive comeback on the next leg, showing terrific boat handling as around them their opponents suffered. They came back through the fleet to take the gold medal ahead of Birgitta BENGTSSON and Marit SODERSTROM (SWE) and write their names in the sailing record books.