Mara Stransky's Olympic debut has started literally on the wrong foot.
The 22-year-old Australian sailor stepped on a sea urchin just before climbing into her dinghy on Sunday at the start of the Laser Radial competition.
But she completed her opening two heats, finishing 12th and 26th, before having her foot checked by team medical staff.
Stransky is expected to continue racing when her competition resumes on Monday.
It is understood Stransky's foot was cut on the sea urchin's spikes, but the footwear she was wearing saved the Australian from a more serious wound.
Her results left Stransky 21st out of 27 sailors in her class, with eight more rounds before the medal race.
Also on Sunday, medal contender Matt Wearn had a frustrating start to his competition in the one-man Laser class.
Wearn was 17th in his opening heat and the second race was postponed just after halfway because of light winds.
Australian Associated Press
