Mat Belcher celebrates 20 years with Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS)

Australia's most successful sailor, Mat Belcher © Australian Sailing Team

Since joining the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) at just 18 years old, Mat Belcher has gone on to become Australia's most successful sailor and one of the country's most decorated athletes.

Having begun sailing at just six years of age, Mat first represented Australia at the 1998/99 420 World Championships in Athens. Since then, his career, spanning five Olympic campaigns, has seen him claim an Olympic gold medal in the men's 470 at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and numerous World Championship titles. Now, having already secured qualification for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year, Mat has set his sights on making a third Olympic podium appearance.

However, such an illustrious career doesn't come without its challenges.

In speaking of the difficult times throughout his career, Mat reflected on the guidance and support of the QAS and his belief in himself to pursue his dreams.

"There were a lot of times in my career where I had second thoughts. What am I doing? The results weren't coming, the training wasn't going that well, the environment was also difficult."

Mat revealed, it was during these times that he focused on taking small steps and would reflect on how far he's come.

"Without the QAS, AIS, Australian Sailing Team, and in particular, my family, it just wouldn't be possible.

"Looking back on twenty years as a consecutive scholarship holder with the QAS, it's an amazing feeling," he said.

The QAS would like to congratulate Mat on his remarkable journey as a QAS scholarship holder and look forward to sharing in what is to come in his sailing career.