Tom Burton has won Australia’s first sailing gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after an amazing turn around in the men’s laser medal race.

Burton needed to put five positions between himself and fellow Zhik Team Rider Tonci Stipanovic from Croatia in order to win the gold.

The 26-year-old finished the medal race in third as the Croatian crossed the line in ninth to give Burton top step on the podium.

“It feels great to win gold,” Burton said.

“The amount of hours I have put into this, the sacrifices I have made; not going to my sister’s wedding, skipping the Opening Ceremony to try and get a good result and it’s all perfect now.”

Meanwhile in the Nacra 17, Cousins Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse have won Australia’s second medal of the day after winning silver in the event at Guanabara Bay.

Sitting in fourth prior to the decisive medal race, the Aussie duo jumped two places up the rankings after they crossed the line in second in the final race of the regatta behind New Zealand.

The Sydneysiders were pipped for the gold medal by the Argentineans by a single point after the crew of Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Sarouli finished the medal race in sixth as Austria's Thomas Zajac and Tanja Frank won the bronze.

Amazing stuff and a big congratulations from us to Tom, Lisa & Jason and all the other Zhik Riders who made it to the podium.