Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

Wearn's long wait for Olympic debut

by AAP, Murray Wenzel 10 May 2020 23:53 AEST
Matt Wearn (Laser). Australian Sailing Team competing at Ready Steady Tokyo (Olympic Test Event) in Enoshima, Japan © Beau Outteridge

As one of the first Australians picked to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, Matt Wearn's wait for his Games debut will feel longer than most.

Selected last September, the reigning back-to-back European Laser class champion felt well positioned to win Australia's third-straight Olympic gold in the Laser category.

He said Tokyo's 12-month postponement due to coronavirus initially felt like "everything had been thrown out the window".

But with new dates set and his position secured the 24-year-old said he's now at peace with the changes, which have given him a chance to tweak the "one-percenters" that could prove crucial in Enoshima Harbour next year.

"We were pretty confident in what we had planned, ready to go, so for it to be thrown out the window was hard to deal with," he said. "When it was still up in the air if you'd have to re-qualify there was a bit of a lack of motivation... but once they announced the new dates and that the selections would stand that disappeared quickly."

Perth-based Wearn, who chose sailing over a potential AFL career as a teenager, hasn't been in a boat for almost a month.

Instead he's been clocking up extra time on his bike during what is usually peak regatta season in Europe as he hopes to emulate the Laser success of Olympic champions Tom Burton (2016) and Tom Slingsby (2012).

Wearn had planned to be sailing in southern France in late April with Belgian girlfriend and fellow sailing world champion Emma Plasschaert.

"The day before I was meant to leave (in early March) I had to make a decision and it turned out to be the right one because I would've had to come home a week later," he said. "I just didn't expect it to be a six-to-eight month thing."

Competition could resume in Europe by September, however, Wearn anticipates travel restrictions could confine him to races closer to home until early next year.

Related Articles

Strong start on LA waters for Australian Sailors
A valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta Australia's top Olympic class sailors have wrapped up a valuable week of racing at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta in California, gaining firsthand experience at the future venue of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 17 Jul
Tough conditions test Morris
As iQFOiL World Championships wrap up The iQFOiL World Championships have drawn to a close in Aarhus, Denmark, following a week of light and unpredictable wind that tested both race officials and athletes to the limit. Posted on 11 Jul
Grae Morris Takes on the iQFOiL Worlds
Shifty conditions on the first day in Aarhus, Denmark Aarhus, Denmark is serving up everything but predictability as the iQFOiL World Championships get under way, and Australian Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris is ready to assert his place at the top of the new Olympic cycle. Posted on 6 Jul
AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
Continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team AST has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years. Posted on 2 Jul
Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted on 30 Jun
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Top 10 finishes for Aussie crews in Europeans
Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding week in Greece Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, with light winds, lengthy delays, and multiple general recalls pushing teams to their limits throughout the week. Posted on 9 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta. Posted on 2 Jun
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
V-DRY-XAllen Dynamic 40 FooterSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit