WEYMOUTH’S Olympic Laser champion Paul Goodison wants do himself and his supporters ‘proud’ in today’s medal race but his dreams of a London 2012 podium finish are over.

The 34-year-old, who has been battling on despite a serious back injury all week, has secured himself a place in the 2pm double-points showdown but can no longer hope to defend his title.

Goodison collected scores of ninth and eighth in what were the Laser’s final series races on Saturday, leaving him sixth overall but with an insurmountable 27 points from bronze medal position heading into today's final race.

After the achievement of finishing in the top 10 of the 49-boat fleet, despite injury, an emotional Goodison said he felt like he had let people down.

The Beijing gold medallist, of Wyke Regis, said: “To be honest it’s disappointing stood here now.

“It’s been four years of hard work getting to this point, I’ve had help from so many people and I feel like I’ve let them all down.

“I felt sure, the last three weeks coming into this, that I had a good chance of retaining my title.

“My speed’s been the best it’s ever been in the breeze, my confidence was high and my knowledge of these sailing areas is better than everybody in this fleet.”

He added: “I hurt my back in race two and although I put on a brave face it’s hard when you’ve only got 80 per cent to give.”

Goodison said every morning and night for the past week, he had been undergoing intense physiotherapy to enable him to race and his back was ‘sore to touch’ as it was bruised from all the work.

He added: “For my friends, family and the rest of the team, I wanted to do them proud.

“At the moment I’ve got to focus on racing in the medal event and doing the best I can.”

Portland ’s Olympic débutante Ali Young has made it through to today’s Laser Radial medal races but also faces an almost insurmountable quest to reach the podium.

Saturday began catastrophically for the 25-year-old, as she jumped the starting pistol in her first race of the day, leaving her disqualified from race nine.

Young managed to bounce back in her second race of the day and finish fourth, leaving her fifth overall, but at 18 points off bronze medal position, her medal chances are extremely slim.

She said: “I’m pretty disappointed to be honest, I felt as though there was a chance out there today.

“But these experiences have been good, it’s a very good learning opportunity going forward.”