The Australian Sailing Team - Our Story

by Australian Sailing Team Media on 9 Aug 2008
Australia enjoys a very proud history in Olympic Sailing, boasting many medal-winning sailing Olympians.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia finished second in the sailing medal tally and second to swimming in Australia’s medal haul, winning two gold, one silver and one bronze. In Athens in 2004,despite the obvious potential of the team, we came away empty-handed.

Following a major review of the Olympic Sailing program a Gold Medal Plan was developed with the aim of returning Australia to our pre-eminent position as a leading Olympic sailing nation in the World.

Fundamental to this strategy was the creation of the Australian Sailing Team as a semi-autonomous entity with a hard commercial edge and professional approach to winning multiple medals in Beijing in 2008 and beyond.

The Australian Sailing Team is the national representative Team for sailing and comprises some of the leading Olympic Class sailors in the world today. Only athletes with the clear potential to win Olympic medals are involved. To qualify, sailors must achieve a top 10 placing at the World Championships in their class, or have the potential to do so within two years. Our goal is simple - to be the best team in the World and to win Olympic Gold Medals.

The Australian Sailing Team draws together our elite Olympic Class athletes into one cohesive and effective group. Our Australian Sailing Development Squad, State High Performance Programs and OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Team provide a seamless pathway for young sailors who share our aspirations.

The Australian Sailing Team is generously supported by our Principal Partner the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). Major Co-Sponsors are Audi Australia and Hamilton Island. Official Suppliers are Gill Australia, Ronstan, Robline & Skins.

The Team is a Tier 1 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) program.

Since its inception in March 2006 the Team has also secured the generous support of a small group of generous Patrons from within the sailing community. These Patrons provided the impetus for the team to attract and establish a comprehensive commercial partner program. This program is well underway and provides essential additional funding and services for the competing athletes.

Our Team is based in Australia, although our athletes spend up to six months each year campaigning overseas. A dedicated Australian Sailing Team support unit operates within Yachting Australia, which includes successful international sailor and businessman Michael Jones as the Team Director and 1983 America’s Cup sailor and multiple World Champion Rob Brown as Team Manager.

A very talented and dedicated coaching line-up is led by Victor Kovalenko, multiple gold medal-winning coach in the 470 Class. Along with Olympic Bronze Medalists, Michael Blackburn (Laser) and Lars Kleppich (Windsurfing), Pre-Olympic representative Adrian Finglas and former World Champions; Michael Fletcher, Emmett Lazich, Euan McNicol, Doug McGain and Arthur Brett.

We believe we have the right mix of raw talent and experience to achieve our very high goals in 2008 and beyond – but we recognise the challenge that we face.

We have the opportunity not only to return Gold Medals to Australia but also to provide a lasting legacy for the sport in Australia.

Did you know?

• Out of all the Australian Olympians, sailor Colin Beashel has competed at the most
summer Olympic Games – 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 (Flag Bearer)
• The oldest Australian Olympian is Bill Northam at 59 years and 26 days.
He competed at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games in the 5.5m class
• The first Australian medal won in sailing at an Olympic Games was at
the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. Rolly Tasker and John Scott won
the silver medal in the 12 metre class
• Australia’s first Olympic sailors were Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock and Len Fenton
in the Star class and Robert French Fireflies in London 1948
• Sailing was first contested at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games
• Australia and Greece are the only two nations to have participated at every
Olympic Games of the modern era

Information courtesy of the Australian Olympic Committee.

Australian Olympic Sailing medals

2000 Jenny Armstrong / Belinda Stowell Womens 470 Gold Medal
Tom King / Mark Turnbull Mens 470 Gold Medal
Darren Bundock / John Forbes Tornado Silver Medal
Michael Blackburn Laser Bronze Medal
1996 Mitch Booth / Andrew Landenberger Tornado Silver Medal
Colin Beashel / David Giles Star Bronze Medal
1992 Mitch Booth / John Forbes Tornado Bronze Medal
Lars Kleppich Mistral Bronze Medal
1984 Bruce Wylie Boardsailing Gold Medal
(Exhibition event)
Chris Cairns / Scott Anderson Tornado Bronze Medal
1976 John Bertrand Finn Bronze Medal
Ian Brown / Ian Ruff 470 Bronze Medal
1972 David Forbes / John Anderson Star Gold Medal
John Cuneo / Tom Anderson / John Shaw Dragon Gold Medal
1964 Bill Northam / Peter O’Donnell / James Sargeant 5.5 Metre Gold Medal
1956 Rolly Tasker / John Scott 12 Square Metre Silver Medal
Jock Sturrock / Devereaux Mytton / Doug Buxton 5.5 Metre Bronze Medal

For the complete Australian Sailing Team click here

To find out more about the Australian Sailing Team go to their website - http://www.australiansailingteam.com.au or click here