Mikael Lundh named National Coach for Australian ILCA6 Squad
by Lisa Darmanin, Australian Sailing 14 Nov 2024 23:57 GMT
Mikael Lundh, the new AST ILCA 6 Coach © Australian Sailing Team
Mikael Lundh, a highly experienced Olympic coach and former elite sailor, has taken on the role of Australian National ILCA6 Squad Coach. His appointment bolsters the Australian Sailing Team’s emphasis on elevating the ILCA6 squad to achieve the required repeated international performances to compete for the podium at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Lundh, a Swedish national with a rich coaching and competitive history, has a proven track record of supporting Olympic campaigns since 2000. Combining this with his professional sailing experience in the Volvo Ocean Race and the World Match Racing Tour, he is well-equipped to progress the national ILCA6 squad into the next Olympiad.
Having relocated to Australia, Lundh has been based in Western Australia for the past decade, working both at home and abroad across a wide range of international classes including ILCA6, Nacra 17, Finn, 49er/FX and Match Racing. He brings not only technical expertise but a deep commitment to fostering excellence and resilience within the athletes he coaches.
Michael Blackburn, Australian Sailing Team Technical Director, commented on Lundh’s appointment, “The AST welcomes Mikael Lundh as the national ILCA6 coach, as he brings a wealth of experience and an immense passion for helping athletes reach their highest potential. Mikael is known for bringing exacting standards, matching the squad's determination for a podium performance in LA2028. He did great work with the Swiss team delivering consistent top-level performances throughout the 2024 Olympiad.”
Lundh steps into the role following the shared coaching leadership of Carolijn Brouwer and Ben Walkemeyer, whose contributions have been instrumental in establishing a national squad environment that has fostered continual international improvement and elevated the national ILCA6 squad. Blackburn expressed his gratitude for their dedication, noting, “We acknowledge the fantastic work of previous ILCA6 national squad coaches, Carolijn and Ben. Their dedication and hard work have been an instrumental part in getting the ILCA6 squad to where it is today.”
Australian Sailing Pathway Team member Casey Imeneo shared her perspective on the coaching transition, “On behalf of myself and the ILCA 6 squad I’d like to thank Caroljin and Ben on their contribution and endless hours coaching us over the past Olympic cycle. They united our squad and instilled a strong sense of teamwork.”
She continued, “As we take this next step towards LA 2028 it’s exciting to welcome Mikael Lundh to the team, he brings new experiences and technical knowledge to the table, along with a change of pace with his direct approach to uphold world class standards every day.”
The ILCA6 squad, which includes Imeneo alongside Evie Saunders, Mara Stransky, Elyse Ainsworth, and Zoe Thomson, has been training in Sydney for the past two weeks. Together, they share a unified commitment to advancing their performances and building on their impressive international results over recent years.
Reflecting on his initial time with the team, “It’s been fantastic to join the team over the past few weeks and start this new chapter with the squad,” said Lundh.
“I’m excited to be part of a team with such a strong support network and a shared commitment to excellence. We all know that things don’t happen overnight—it takes time, accountability, and hard work from both the sailors and the support staff. This squad has chosen to work together and with the depth of knowledge within the team, I’m confident we can build toward a world-class standard as we set our sights on LA.”
The ILCA6 squad will soon head to Port Phillip Bay, where they’ll compete at Sail Melbourne from November 28 to December 1. Later in December, they’ll travel to Queensland for Sail Brisbane, followed by the Australian ILCA National Championships also to be held in Brisbane in early January 2025.