Olympic board sailor lashes out as Spanish hope for Olympic windfall

by Sail-World NZL on 12 May 2016 2012 Olympian JP Tobin has hit out at Yachting New Zealand's selection policy for Rio that has left the boardsailing classes vacant for August's Games, according to a story published on the stuff.co.nz website.

The online news arm of Fairfax the media empire has picked up comments from Tobin's Facebook page.

Tobin, who finished seventh at the last Games in London and qualified his class for Rio, abandoned his latest Olympic campaign citing a lack of support and funding as he endured a roller-coaster ride with the national body's high-performance squad.

Following a second team announcement on Tuesday morning, New Zealand sailors will only contest seven of the ten classes at the Games. However, NZ qualified for the 2016 Olympics in all ten events, with two women sailors not being selected, after having placed in the top 12 nations in each of the past three world championships. The events in which Yachting NZ failed to nominate are the Mens and Womens Windsurfer and Womens Singlehander (Laser Radial).

Tobin has been outspoken in his disappointment at windsurfing's treatment in this Olympic cycle, with the sport lacking Kiwi representation for the first time since it was introduced to the Games in 1984.

And he didn't miss the chance to comment on the selection ruckus via his Facebook page.

'This is a nonsense and only serves to improve the chances of other nations winning medals in Rio,' Tobin said of leaving three classes empty.

'YNZ and their selectors have in fact done the rest of the world a favour.'

He maintained the three classes are 'all medal capable' for New Zealand.

While heavily funded YNZ are strict with their selection policy, Tobin felt the Games were also about participation.

'Some guy once said 'winning medals wasn't the point of the Olympics. It's the participating that counts'. (The) same guy just happened to be the man responsible for the modern Olympic Games movement ... Pierre de Coubertin.'

Tobin conceded 'at the same time this is true, the reality is that medals are required for the Olympic-go-round.'

But he noted the sharp selection policy had seen a trend in the reduction of the New Zealand sailing team over the past two Olympics – 'one less in 2012 now three less in 2016 really asks the question where is this all heading?'

Windsurfing's demise was particularly disappointing because of the rich Olympic history Kiwis had provided through Bruce Kendall, Barbara Kendall, Tom Ashley and Aaron McIntosh, the story continues.

For the full story on Stuff click here

In Spain the champagne corks are close to popping at the news coming out of New Zealand on Tuesday morning.

The club of one of their top Laser Radial sailors Martina Kingdom expects Spain to be allocated the Olympic spot released by Yachting New Zealand.

Kingdom, nee Reino, finished in 29th place overall in the 2014 World Championships, which were the first round of Olympic Qualification for Rio in 2016. Winther finished 11th overall and more importantly in Olympic terms - 10th country at the 2014 Worlds in Santander.

The following year, with Winther suffering from a painful wrist injury, she dropped to 22nd place with Martina Reino placing 29th.

There were no Spanish entries at the 2016 Worlds in Mexico last month, as they did not have an Olympic place, but Winther returned to form and finished 11th overall and 10th country at the final Worlds before the Olympics.

The Men's Windsurfer spot will be reallocated under a complex formula. However, the recipient is expected to be young Belarus sailor Mikita Tsirkun, who placed 63rd overall in the 2016 Worlds. No New Zealanders competed in that regatta in the Men's category.

Tobin's caustic response to the Belarussian's elevation was: 'What can I say except you're welcome Mikita...go well, and you may want to send a thank-you card to Yachting NZ.'