Charline Picon of France got her hands on what had been an elusive Olympic gold medal ©Getty Images

Charline Picon of France got her hands on what had been an elusive Olympic gold medal as she came through a gripping final day to win the women's RS:X title on Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro today.

The 2014 world champion was one of seven windsurfers in contention for glory at Rio 2016 and she sealed the title with a second place finish in the medal race, giving her an overall total of 64 points.

The men's event was in stark contrast to the women's competition as Dorian van Rijsselberghe of The Netherlands was already guaranteed to defend his London 2012 title, while Britain's Nick Dempsey knew he would leave with the silver medal.

Picon was eighth in London four years ago but put together a series of solid performances to ensure she topped the podium at the Olympics for the first time.

Chen Peina of China had been well-placed to snatch the gold medal away from the Frenchman after she shot downwind, allowing her to move from sixth to second in the medal race before her challenge eventually faltered.

She was forced to settle for silver, two points behind Picon.

Russia's Stefania Elfutina edged medal race winner Lillian de Geus of The Netherlands to seal the bronze medal.

Dorian van Rijsselberghe of The Netherlands had his victory in the men's event confirmed today ©Getty Images
Dorian van Rijsselberghe of The Netherlands had his victory in the men's event confirmed today ©Getty Images

"So many feelings and emotions at the finish line! It has been a really difficult week," Picon said.

"Yesterday I counted all the points I lost because things didn't go as I wanted, I had some complicated moments. 

"So winning the gold medal like this in this exciting Medal Race and with this Hollywood scenario, it's just incredible.

"After London, it has been four years of preparation, and we were fighting for three medals. 

"Here I knew it could be my time, I believed it from the beginning but this morning I was absolutely stressed. I worked with my psychologist on making the stress work in my favour. 

"I have come a long way since London."

The medal race for Van Rijsselberghe was a formality as he had secured victory two days previously but had to wait until today to confirm his triumph.

The Dutchman did it in style by winning the medal race to end on 25 points, comfortably clear of Dempsey and bronze medallist Pierre Le Coq of France.

"We are professional athletes and wait until the final moments," Van Rijsselberghe said.

"We had a wonderful week of sailing. 

"We had crazy wind, everything went well and we didn't wait on the beach for days so we have had a good competition."