US Sailing Olympic Director stands down after four years

by US Sailing on 10 Oct 2016 Josh Adams has decided to step down as Managing Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing after guiding the U.S. Olympic Team, Paralympic Team, Pan-American Team, Youth Worlds Team and the US Sailing Team Sperry for the past four years.

Under Adams’ leadership, the Olympic program achieved podium results in a broad spectrum of events, highlighted by a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a silver medal at the Paralympic Games, six medals at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and three Youth Worlds medals from 2013-2015. Adams also initiated US Sailing’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) and its 10-year $7 million strategic plan, which aims to develop rising young talent and create sustainable success in American high-performance sailing.

“Under Josh’s leadership, the Olympic program at US Sailing has made tremendous strides in how we prepare our athletes to perform at the highest levels of international competition,” said Bruce Burton, President of US Sailing. “His focus on the development of and commitment to young American sailors has been the key element in building a solid foundation for future success. We will always be grateful for the passion and professionalism Josh brought to this role and US Sailing.”

“This has been a very difficult decision to make,” said Adams. “My wife Sarah and I have two young boys aged 7 and 9, and this decision is all about them. Once things wrap up at US Sailing later this year, I will step into our family business in Connecticut and enjoy more of everyday life at home. Our team and program came a long way the last few years and showed the world in Rio that Team USA is here to compete at the top level of Olympic sailing.”

Adams will stay on at US Sailing this fall to work on a smooth transition and planning for the Tokyo 2020 quad.

As leader of the team, Adams led the establishment of an extensive training operation at the Rio 2016 sailing venue beginning in 2013, which provided the resources necessary for American athletes to dedicate an unprecedented amount of training time on Games racecourses prior to the Games in Brazil. “As a team we experienced the highs and lows of Olympic sport, and departed Rio proud of our sailors and the progress they have made as athletes,” said Adams in a recent open letter to the US Sailing community.

Adams was the first full-time head of the Olympic Sailing Program, occupying a role activated shortly after the London 2012 Games. Prior to that, the program was managed directly by the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC). Adams came to the program after a 15-year career at SAIL Magazine, which culminated in leading the magazine as Publisher for the final seven years of his tenure. He was a member of the OSC since 2005 prior to becoming head of the program. Adams is an accomplished sailor, having finished second at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Team Trials in the Men’s 470 class, and being name an All-American three times while at Tufts University.

Adams said that the he sees a bright future for the US Sailing Team, and looks forward to cheering on American athletes on as they move deeper into the next Olympic cycle. “I believe in our athletes and the dedicated professionals who support them on and off the water. We have bright prospects for Tokyo 2020, and there is a system in place to develop the next generation of Olympic sailors. I’m intensely proud to have played my part in all of this.”