Gold for Parkin & Beck in the i420 at Youth Worlds

Gold for Parkin & Beck in the i420 at the Youth Worlds © Sailing Energy / World Sailing

Racing wrapped on the North Sea for the 450+ athletes representing 69 countries, and the USA is coming home with a shiny gold medal in the i420 by Freddie Parkin and Asher Beck. Team USA posted seven top-10 finishes.

Final USA Results:

• 1st - Freddie Parkin & Asher Beck, Male/Mixed i420
• 4th - Katharine Doble, Female ILCA 6
• 4th - Peter Barnard, Male ILCA 6
• 6th - Ian Nyenhuis & Noah Nyenhuis, Male 29er
• 7th - Sammie Gardner & Alice Schmid, Female 29er
• 8th - Samara Walshe & Lillie Foster, Female i420
• 9th - Dorothy Mendelblatt & Ian Iles-Lee, Mixed Nacra 15
• 11th - Danicka Sailer, Female iQFOiL
• 11th - Ryan Satterberg, Male Formula Kite
• 22nd - Makani Andrews, Male iQFOiL

Full Results available here.

USA Youth Worlds Gold medalists Parkin and Beck entered the final day of racing in 4th place, with Israel, Spain, and Portugal ahead in the standings. With only one race on the schedule for the last day, their mission was clear: one shot to give it everything they had.

"We felt good coming into today because we'd gotten a solid understanding of the conditions throughout the week and knew how to perform in them," said Freddie Parkin.

"Our stress levels were also lower than the other boats that were wearing colored pinnies from their first, second, and third standings the day before," added Asher Beck. "We came into the day with less of a target on our backs which made it easier to sneak in there and have a good race."

When asked about the moment they realized they won the gold, Parkin said, "We were ahead right off the start and kept our lead and knew we had silver in the bag on our last downwind run, but then it just became a waiting game after the finish to see how Israel's race played out."

"It was a crazy feeling," said Beck. "Our goal was to make the podium in general, so it took a moment for the reality of winning gold to set in, but it was a super great moment that we'll never forget."

"We are incredibly proud of our US Team this week," said Team Leader, Phil Muller. "This regatta is more than a series of sailboat races. The demands of the circus off the water create a challenge beyond the typical regatta experience, but our team was well prepared and managed the pressure of this event like mature athletes. We are thrilled for our 420 boys who stood at the top of their podium tonight proudly waving our flag."

"Returning home, we have a list of new skills to work on and a depth of gratitude for our families, domestic coaches and training partners that lifted our team to this elite level."

A special thank you to Quantum Racing for supporting the US Sailing Team Olympic Development Program (ODP), and to AmericaOne for believing in the ODP vision from the beginning and pushing the mission forward.