Olympics

By the end of 2002, Bart’s sailing and his results had gone downhill. “I ended up trying to beat Ben rather than trying to sail my best.” He took himself to a psychologist. “I wasn’t thinking the right things. He taught me to refocus on sailing the best you can rather than trying to beat anyone else. He helped get my brain back on track, and I made some steps forwards, focusing on improving my own performance rather than worrying about anyone else.”

Could there be any reason to believe that a team that had just finished 52nd in the Star World Championships had any hope of winning a medal at the Olympic Games later in the year? On the face of it that question seems like a no-brainer. How could any team have serious designs on a top three at the Games, let along winning gold? But if you know that the team in question is Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, and you know anything of what these sailors have achieved, then you might change your view.

In our penultimate #2012inspired blog, West Mersea’s Saskia Clark looks back on her Games experiences, having won 470 class silver with Hannah Mills after just an 18-month campaign together. Clark and Mills took time out of the sport after London, but have returned to the 470 this month ahead of the 470 World Championships in La Rochelle next month

Hannah Mills won silver at her first Olympic Games in London, competing with Saskia Clark in the 470 women’s event. Since London, she’s taken time out of the sport, returning to Olympic Classes sailing only this month as she and Clark prepare for their World Championships in August as a first step back on the Road to Rio

Luke Patience sailed the ‘regatta of my life’ to claim an exuberant silver medal with Stuart Bithell in the 470 class at their first Olympic Games. Since London, the friends have parted ways with Bithell moving into the 49er class, and Patience having now teamed up with two-time Olympic silver medallist Joe Glanfield in their quest for Rio gold

He is the most experienced man in mixed multihull sailing on the Olympic Nacra circuit to date. Sebbe Godefroid (BEL) leads the way to this new discipline, by joining forces with Carolijn Brouwer in their bid for an Olympic medal in 2008 in the Tornado. On their way, they won silver at the 2007 ISAF Worlds in Cascais. It wasn’t an easy road with many bumps, which makes him a skilled coach for the Swiss team of two boats.

Kate Macgregor sailed in the Women’s Match Racing event at her first Olympics with sister Lucy and Annie Lush where they finished seventh. Match racing was removed from the Games programme after London, so, like Lucy, Kate has been back to school – literally and metaphorically – since the Olympics, learning a new boat as well as finishing her degree.

From campaigning in the 49er, to coaching Olympic keelboat and match race sailors, Maurice Paardenkooper has done it all. He won a silver medal with his Dutch Yngling project at the 2008 Games in Beijing. On the road to London 2012 he made a transfer to the British Federation to work with Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor. Now, he has commenced a new chapter in his professional career…

Ben Rhodes overcame numerous injury setbacks to qualify for his second Olympics in the 49er event with Stevie Morrison, where they finished fifth. The pair are back on the campaign trail for Rio 2016

Stevie Morrison competed at his second Olympics in 2012, sailing with Ben Rhodes in the 49er event where they finished fifth after a tough battle against injury and selection. The pair are campaigning again in the 49er for Rio