KING AND TURNBULL GROW FROM 'SNUB-NOSE' SAILBOATS TO OLYMPIC MEDAL PROSPECTS.

by Ian Grant on 31 Aug 2000 Tom King and Mark Turnbull were worlds apart when they enjoyed their first taste of serious sailing competition as junior sailors in the National Mirror and Sabot championships.

The one thing they had in common was the skill to win major title trophies in the 'snub-nose' junior sailing classes.

Another was their individual tenacity to master the class to be respected at the National level with King winning a World Mirror title while Turnbull became one of Australia's most respected in the Sabots before age and bodyweight forced him to make positive career plans in senior one-design class racing.

Both talented individuals always maintained a focus towards sailing for Australia at the International level in the senior classes and naturally their career course was steered toward the Olympics.

They bonded a special friendship which in the past 12 months has produced one of the success stories as the Australian team prepare to take on the best in the World for the 2000 Olympic Medals in Sydney.

Tom King and Mark Turnbull regarded by some to be just off the pace in the mentally and physically demanding class of Olympic 470 dinghy racing proved their critics were off the pace when they climbed dramatically up the International ranks by winning the World championship in Europe earlier this year.

Suddenly the race for Olympic 470 medals in Sydney had a new challenger with the 'young guns' from Australia.

The determination, dedication, technique and tactical skills cleverly moulded into a first class racing combination by master 470 AYF coach Victor Kovalenko has allowed King and Turnbull to realise the dream they had so many years ago to represent Australia at the Olympics.

Their recent results in Europe has added new confidence for their bid to outsail the high profile American, French and Ukraine crews when the battle-lines are drawn for the precious Olympic Medals on Sydney Harbour from September 20th to 28th.