Making waves - Australian Olympic Sailing Team Paris 2024 Recap
by Michael Martin 12 Aug 21:30 BST
28 July - 8 August 2024
Australian Paris Olympic Sailing Team © World Sailing / Jean-Louis Carli
Despite having one of the most youthful teams in recent years, with an average age of 24, Australian sailors made waves at the Olympics, securing a gold and silver medal, along with three additional top ten finishes across eight events.
The competition, marked by light winds and long delays on the Mediterranean Sea, tested the sailors' resilience and patience, but they rose to the challenge. Matt Wearn making history in becoming the first ever to defend an Olympic gold medal in the Men's Dinghy event, extending Australia's dominance in this category to an unprecedented four consecutive Olympic titles. Matt has been recognised for his amazing achievement by being named one of the flag bearers for Australia at the closing ceremony on August 12th.
Matt joins Australian two-time gold medallist Malcom Page from London 2012 and Mat Belcher from Tokyo 2020 as sailors who have been given this honour. Wearn commented on what it meant to find out alongside his wife and Belgian Olympic sailor Emma Plasschaert, "We've had a few tears in our eyes. We both know what it means to represent our country, and how much of an honour this is," said Wearn.
Australian Sailing Technical Director Michael Blackburn, who coached the Men's Dinghy from 2012 to 2021 before stepping into his new role for Paris 2024, shared, "It's been great to work across all classes and coaches over the past few years. I've learned a lot from each squad, helped them where I can, and identified where we can all improve over the next quad."
On what it meant to see a four-peat in the Men's Dinghy class, Blackburn added, "My heart will always lie with the ILCA squad, so I'm extremely proud of what Wearny and (coach) Rafa (Trujillo) have achieved in continuing the amazing legacy of the last three Games."
Australian Sailing Team High Performance Director Iain Brambell commented on the team's performance, "I am incredibly proud of how the team came into Marseille. Although three-quarters of the team was new to the Games environment, I was delighted to see Matt stepping up to successfully defend his title as Olympic Champion, while Grae (Morris) calmly went about his business as a first-time Olympian in dominant fashion on the route to the podium."
Twenty-year-old Morris dazzled in his Olympic debut, capturing Silver in the adrenaline-pumping Men's Windsurfing event, showcasing his raw talent and flair. On the youthfulness of the team, Brambell shared, "On average across the ten Olympic events, our National Squad members are three to four and in some instances ten years younger than the average age of those standing on the Olympic podium in Marseille.
"This bodes very well for our team on the road to LA 2028 as no member of the 2024 Australian Olympic Sailing Team is content with their performance in Marseille and is now driven more than ever to achieve greater podium success in 2028."