Britain’s windsurfers have won medals at each of the past four Olympic Games, with Dempsey winning silver in 2012 and 2016 plus bronze in 2004, while Shaw won bronze in 2008.
But with only one spot on the team available for next year’s Olympics in Japan, the pressure is on for Emma to ensure she is the one flying the flag for Great Britain.
“I feel confident about Tokyo,” she says.
“It’s tough because only one person can go from each country, and Britain’s in a pretty good place with me, Bryony and Saskia [Sills].”
For Penny, watching her daughter follow in her footsteps by reaching the Olympics would be a proud moment.
“I think she can do anything she wants to do. She has the drive, she is athletic and she is really positive about everything,” Penny says.
“She would say she wouldn’t be doing it if she didn’t think she could get an Olympic gold medal, but she definitely won’t put too much pressure on herself either.
“I would be so happy for her if she got to Tokyo. It’s been her dream to win an Olympic medal since she saw Kelly Holmes doing it in 2004.
“She’ll train as hard as anyone possibly can, even harder, and if it all comes together then brilliant. If it doesn’t, she’s not lost anything.”
