OLYMPIC gold medal hero Paul Goodison started his sailing career even before he was born - when his mum took to the water six months pregnant!
Proud dad Roy, of Harold Croft, Greasbrough, Rotherham, revealed today how he used to take his wife Cynthia out sailing when she was pregnant with Paul.
The 60-year-old retired Royal Mail engineer told The Star: "I used to sail with Cynthia in a 12ft dinghy and we used to go out - obviously when the water was calm - when she was six months pregnant. Perhaps that's where Paul got the taste for it!
"After he was born we were soon back in a boat, with Paul wrapped in a blanket. He took to it straight away and never looked back. He has been all over the world and first reached the Olympics four years ago in Athens."
Roy and Cynthia started taking Paul out sailing when he was four on Rotherham's Ulley Reservoir.
The 30-year old sailing ace - a Sheffield United fan - made up for his disappointment in Athens when he just missed out on the medals, by joining Britain's growing band of elite medal winners by scooping gold in the Laser class event.
Cynthia had travelled to China to watch his bid for Olympic glory but Roy and Paul's brother Matt, 27, had to be content with cheering him on back home in Rotherham along with family, friends and members of Ulley Sailing Club.
Roy, a sailor for more than 30 years, said: "I got up at 5am and soon the house was full of people cheering Paul on. What can I say - it is just a fantastic achievement. I am so proud and his mum will be too.
"Paul is due back next week and we are planning a big family celebration. The sailing club at Ulley also wants to put on their own do.
"Paul lives in Weymouth and has a lot of commitments but we can't wait to see him back home in Rotherham as soon as possible."
He added: "Within minutes of Paul winning his gold I was linked up to him and his mum via TV and was able to tell him just how proud I was. It was just great to be able to talk to them both.
"Since news of Paul's success came through it has been just mad. I have had everybody calling to congratulate Paul and have done more TV and radio interviews. I don't know what it will be like when he comes back. But it will just great to see him. He really deserves his success. He has worked so hard and today is the icing on the cake for him.
"Cynthia has been there a month helping with a charity for children before she went to watch the sailing for a rest. Some rest it has turned out to be! I would have given anything to be there, but we had come back from a trip to Egypt recently and it was just too much for me."
Paul said: "After all the heartache and pain I put my mum through in Athens I'm sure she's more relieved than I am. It's a shame my dad can't be here as well. But I'm sure he'll be at home enjoying this, and my brother and everyone else who has helped me out.
It's been fantastic."
Paul, the winner of four European titles, said the dream of Olympic gold is what has driven him since his early days sailing with his mum and dad.
He said: "It wasn't the ideal place to start, but my parents used to sail at Ulley and they carried on after me and my brother came about. They just encouraged us to go out there just for some fun really at the weekends. Sailing wasn't a massive part of my youth, I was more interested in playing football but by the time I was 12 or 13 I started to get into sailing a bit more."
Sheffield United are planning to get Paul and his medal to a game at Bramall Lane as soon as possible - fulfilling a promise when manager Kevin Blackwell and ex-Blades boss Neil Warnock went sailing with Paul off the Isle of Wight earlier this year.
Blades Chairman Kevin McCabe: "This is a remarkable performance from Paul. We were willing him on to win especially after the heartache of Athens four years ago when he just missed out on a medal.
"Paul will be our very special guest at Bramall Lane when all Blades will give him the reception he so richly deserves."
Kevin Blackwell said: "He has done everyone proud and as a Blade we are all delighted for him - I was in contact with him after we had beaten QPR and hope our victory provided a bit of inspiration.
"We are all looking forward to him coming down to the Lane as a guest of the club so he can receive a standing ovation from the fans who should recognise just what one of them has achieved."
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