Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux was in second place and poised to win an Olympic medal in the Finn class at Seoul 1988 when he abandoned the race to save Singapore pair Joseph Chan and Siew Shaw Her, competing in the 470 class, which was sharing the course. They had been thrown into the rough water in Pusan. After he rescued Chan and Siew, Lemieux waited for and transferred the two sailors onto an official patrol boat. He then finished 22nd, missing out on his chance of a medal, but was recognised by the International Olympic Committee with the Pierre de Coubertin medal honouring his bravery and sacrifice.