DORSET’S Emma Wilson claimed a magnificent windsurfing bronze at Tokyo 2020 after a stunning second position in the RS:X medal race.

China’s Lu Yunxiu took gold and France’s Charline Picon claimed silver in a nerve-racking 13th race of the class.

In the Christchurch star’s debut Olympic Games, Wilson went into the medal race – featuring the top 10 sailors from the 12 fleet races – guaranteed of bronze.

Wilson, 22, needed to make up two positions, equivalent to four points, during the race on overnight leader Lu Yunxiu, but both lost ground to reigning Olympic champion Picon in the early exchanges.

Light winds at Enoshima forced the competitors to pump their sails in order to gain speed, a taxing technique in temperatures of 29 degrees Celsius plus the Japanese humidity.

Wilson rounded the first mark in sixth place and then dropped to eighth after the downwind second leg.

However, as Picon forged ahead on the third leg, Wilson stormed through the pack to claim second with Lu in close pursuit rounding the next buoy.

Picon had extended her advantage to 36 metres at this stage, meaning Wilson had little chance of overhauling Lu for gold with the Chinese star tracking her every move.

READ MORE: How Emma Wilson guaranteed herself a bronze

The trio were by now well ahead of the chasing pack, highlighting just why they locked out the podium.

Cruising past the final mark, Picon crossed the line to take silver with Wilson claiming a superb second for bronze, Lu then cutting the beam seconds later.