Julie Paturau, a kiteboarder from Mauritius, initially dismissed the possibility of competing in the Olympics. However Jean de Falbaire encouraged her to try foiling with him and represent Mauritius.

She said: "I told her that I'd learn but didn't believe we'd make it to Olympics in 4 years.

Both women and men will be sailing at their first Games on Sunday.

Paturau says foiling kiteboarding was the most difficult sport he had ever tried. He has also done skateboarding, riding, skating, and kiteboarding.

Paturau, who competed in the Olympics' fastest race said: "It was the most difficult sport I have ever played."

De Falbaire had envisioned the two racing together as a relay, but the Olympics chose to separate the men's and women's races.

Paturau described learning foiling as "very frightening" because of its combination of speed, gear and crashes. This version of the sport is very difficult compared with traditional ones that do not use foils.

It was as if I had to start from scratch. "You think, 'you have a sail and a board. It can't really be different,' but it's very different," Paturau told a group of people on an Avenue du Prado bus.

Paturau said that the last Mauritius sailing representative to compete at an Olympic Games was her mother who took part in Barcelona 1992 in windsurfing and now is in Marseille with her daughter.

We were all super excited. "Even though you're last, it's okay," she said. "You need to be first African in line to receive your ticket, and you're there," Paturau stated. Reporting by Alexander Smith, Editing by Ken Ferris

(source: Reuters)