London Olympics 2012
Click here to find our complete Olympic sailing coverage from the 2012 Olympic venue in Weymouth and Portland.
Let the Olympic Games begin! Competition will be fierce this summer in Weymouth and Portland, England, as 380 sailors vie for gold in 10 different events. The U.S. qualified for spots in all 10 events, and thus will be sending nine men and seven women to the racecourse. Among these 16 athletes are seven returning medalists, including 2008 gold medalist Anna Tunnicliffe and 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey. Be it their first Olympics or an encore performance, all 16 sailors have been preparing for this moment for years and are ready to give it their all.
Meet the Team
Rob Crane (Laser Full-Rig)
Crane, 26, had his break-out performance at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. Click here to learn more about him, or here for a video.
Paige Railey (Laser Radial)
Devastated by losing the Olympic Trials in 2007, Paige Railey applied herself even more fiercely and has now earned a spot alongside her brother in Weymouth this summer. To watch a short video about the 2005 Laser Radial World Champion and 2006 Rolex ISAF World Sailor of the Year, click here. For more facts on the younger Railey, click here.
Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl (Men’s 470)
McNay and Biehl placed a respectable 13th in the 80-boat Men’s 470 class in the 2008 Olympics, but are unwilling to settle for anything below a medal this year. The pair is currently ranked fifth in the world.
Amanda Clark & Sarah Lihan (Women’s 470)
Clark became the youngest member of the national team at the age of 15 in 1994, and competed in the 2008 Olympics. In contrast, this will be the first Games for Lihan. The pair raced impressively at the Sail For Gold, bringing home the silver medal in the Women’s 470. Find more information here, and a video of the duo here.
Zach Railey (Finn)
The elder Railey earned silver in 2008, and is back in the medal hunt in what could prove to be the fiercest competition in Weymouth. The Finn class is stacked with superstars such as Ben Ainslie, who has declared that anything less than gold will be a disappointment. For a brief video about Zach Railey’s aspirations, click here. For more information on the returning Olympian, click here.
Erik Storck & Trevor Moore (49er)
This skiff duo has proven to be lightning-fast and is ready to take flight at the 2012 Olympics. For a brief interview, click here. For a video, click here.
Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer, and Debbie Capozzi (Elliott 6m/ Women’s Match Racing)
Not content with an Olympic gold in laser radials in Beijing, Tunnicliffe has returned this year in hopes to stand atop a new podium. She has not returned alone this year, however, and aspires to share the spotlight with teammates Vandemoer and Capozzi. For an interview with the athlete who bared it all for ESPN the Magazine‘s annual The Body issue, click here.
Bob Willis (RS:X/ Men’s Windsurfer)
Chicago native Willis began windsurfing in high school and is currently the top-ranked U.S. windsurfer. An avid Chicago Bulls fan, Willis will be competing in the Olympics for the first time. For more information about Willis, click here. For a video about his past and his aspirations, click here.
Farrah Hall (RS:X/Women’s Windsurfer)
Known for her incredible work ethic and physical fitness, Hall is a dedicated competitor to her tough sport. Currently ranked #60 in the world, you can expect her to give it her all in England.
Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih (Star)
Mendelblatt and Fatih teamed up during this Olympic quadrennium and have consistently found themselves in the top 10 at international events. They are ranked #17 in the world.
