Moroz finishes 4th, Edegran 9th to close out Paris 2024
by US Sailing Team 8 Aug 15:05 PDT
July 28 - August 8, 2024
Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) finished fourth at her first Olympic Games © World Sailing
The final day of racing for the USA brought light wind but heavy intensity for the first ever Men's and Women's Kite Medal Series at an Olympic Games. Markus Edegran (Ossining, NY) finished his regatta in 9th overall, and Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) ended in 4th.
In classic Edegran fashion, he opened his semifinal race with a port tack start along with Great Britain's Connor Bainbridge. Edegran made a beeline out to the right side of the course and was leading the fleet until a crash took him off his board and dropped him back to 4th for the remainder of the race and a 9th overall result.
"It's tough," said Edegran. "I met my first goal of making the medal series, but I know I have it in me to be on the podium. I'm proud of my climb in the months leading here and proud of a solid performance at my first Olympics, but I'm hungry for more. I'm super grateful to the US Sailing Team for the support here on the ground and to my community back home who's backed my efforts to be here. Representing Team USA this week has been an honor."
Moroz started her day in Semifinal A, where she needed one race win to advance to the finals. In a neck-and-neck race, Moroz was narrowly beat by Switzerland's Elena Lengwiler but was fouled at the last windward mark by Lengwiler. Moroz swiftly won her protest, Elena was thrown out, and it was a ticket to Women's Kite Finals for Team USA, joining France's Lauriane Nolot, Great Britain's Eleanor Aldridge, and Annelous Lammerts from The Netherlands.
The finals got under way as the breeze faltered. Moroz entered the first race in an advantageous position on the largest kite in her quiver as all other kiters missed the window to size up on shore for the dying breeze. Aldridge won the first race which stalled Nolot from taking the gold medal and kept the game on with another race for women's finals.
In order to medal, Moroz needed to finish ahead of Dutch sailor Annelous Lammerts in the second race but came in just behind her, landing in 4th overall for her first Games in kiteboarding's Olympic debut. The podium was filled out by Great Britain's Eleanor Aldridge in first, France's Lauriane Nolot in second, and Lammerts in third.
"It hurts a lot, and it will for a while," said Moroz. "This sport is both beautiful and ruthless, and as athletes we chase the highs but risk the lows that are part of the journey. I've said plenty of times before that I practice conscious gratitude for those highs and lows, and this is now my ultimate challenge.
I respect the process of this competition and want to extend my sincere congratulations to Ellie, Lauriane, and Annelous who have shown me friendship on and off the water in this epic lead up to get here together.
I know I had the best team out there with me, on shore, and back home, and this result does not take away from how proud I am of the program we put together to represent the Stars and Stripes on the water this week. Go Team USA, forever and always."
The United States concluded racing today in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, finishing with a bronze medal, five additional top ten finishes, and five newly minted Olympians.
"I said before the Games began that I was so impressed with the drive and work ethic I'd seen in each athlete, and that did not waver as we went through the toughest competition of many of their careers so far," said Marcus Lynch, US Sailing Team High Performance Director and Paris 2024 Team Leader.
"I'm proud of this whole team and how every athlete, coach, and support staff member pushed to the very end of the regatta, leaving no stone unturned. Ian and Hans's bronze medal was extremely motivating to their teammates here in Marseille and will serve as a positive example for those coming after them.
We have a special energy and camaraderie on this team that we've worked hard to achieve in the months building up to these Olympic Games. It's an inspiring and collaborative culture that I know will foster a healthy atmosphere for new and returning athletes pursuing Los Angeles 2028. The next Olympics are on home turf, and it's game on for Team USA."
For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes that competed in the sailing events and broadcast reruns, see US Sailing's Olympics Page.