Two young members of the Team Tilt squad selected for the Rio Olympics

by Team Tilt Sailing on 24 Jun 2016 Sebastien Schneiter and Lucien Cujean’s dreams came true this week when the two young members of the Team Tilt squad, aged 20 and 26 years old respectively, were informed by Swiss Olympic that they have been selected for the Rio Olympics.

“It is unbelievable news,” said Sebastien Schneiter. “There is an element of luck, but we are seizing the opportunity. This is a chance to look to the future; we will go to Rio to learn and to give the best that we have got.”

“It is fantastic,” added Lucien Cujean. “I would never have imagined this two years ago. We have worked incredibly hard and this is a superb reward for our efforts!”

When a place became available within the Swiss quota, Swiss Olympic – the only body that can confirm the selection of a team – decided to apply the ‘Newcomer Rule’, a rule that allows young competitors engaged in an ambitious Olympic programme and with a long term goal to participate in the Olympics, to take part without necessarily targeting a leading performance.

Sebastien and Lucien have been racing the 49er together for two years. They have quickly progressed up the ranks, most recently finishing 17th at the Rio Test Event in 2015 and 18th at the World Cup in Weymouth at the beginning of June. They will now shift their focus to being ready for the Olympic Games!

“It will be a very unique event with only 20 boats,” described Sebastien. “In the context of our qualification, the pressure will be more intense for our competitors than for us, even though we are naturally competitive and will be trying to do as well as possible in terms of personal performance.

“Over the coming days, we will train in Weymouth in the UK and test the sails that we will take to the Olympics. Then we head to Rio to train on the Olympic course from the 4 to 22 July before having a short break ahead of the main event.”

Sebastien and Lucien have adapted their programme to accommodate the exciting news and will pull back from the GC32 Team Tilt campaign.

“The team’s participation at the events in Malcesine and Palma are not in question,” said Sebastien. “We are freeing up two spots on the boat that will give other young members of our squad the opportunity to gain some invaluable experience ahead of the Youth America’s Cup.”