NZL Sailing Team - Three World Champions named in five events for Rio

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 13 Mar 2016 The NZ Olympic Committee have announced a team of ten sailors to contest five events, this morning at Wakatere Boating Club on Auckland's North Shore.

Three of the crews named have won world championships in the current Olympic cycle in their respective classes.

Two of the team will be returning for their third Olympic Regatta. Another three of the team will be returning for their second Olympic regatta.

Two of the crews won Gold and Silver medals in their respective classes at the 2012 Olympic Regata in Weymouth, England.

The Team announced today is:

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (Women's 470) - Women's Double-hander

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er) - Mens Skiff

Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (49er FX) - Women's Skiff

Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox (Men's 470) - Men's Double-hander

Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders (Nacra 17) - Mixed Multihull.

'It is a special day when you are named in an Olympic team', said NZ Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith. 'We know that today represents a reak milestone in your efforts to compete in the Olympics, and I know that the sailors here today will know that it is just a milestone, It is a nice tick to have in your box after all your dedication and committment after your tireless hours of trianing on and off the water.

'Today there are ten sailors being named - five men and five women in different crews. Of those six are previous Olympians and two of the events named are new Olympic events.

'This is a wonderful opportunity for these sailors to make history in Rio.'

The team composition was as predicted in a Sail-World story on Saturday - click here to read the background to the Selections.

A further announcement of team members is expected in May after the conclusion of further World Championships in two classes. Other classes may have further selection trials which will not be publicly disclosed.

New Zealand was one of only three countries to qualify in all ten events at the first round of 2016 Olympic Qualification in Santander, Spain in September 2014.