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ALL AT SEA JULY 2021
TOKYO 2020 First they were postponed until 2021, and then the build-up this year has been marred by rumours and discussions about whether they would – or should – go ahead, but this month, against public opinion in Japan, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be taking place, and we cannot wait!
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ncredibly, last year was the first postponement of the Games since the start of the modern Olympics in 1896. They have, however, been cancelled on three occasions – in World War I and World War II – but through the years there have also been boycotts, national team bans and even terrorist attacks. The debate about whether the Games should take place this year in the midst of a global pandemic will rumble on, but what is clear is, not surprisingly, money is a key factor behind the decision to proceed. The broadcasting rights income is worth billions to the International Olympic Committee, while the cost of putting on the Olympics is officially around $15.4B, but in reality is probably far higher, and much of that is Japanese taxpayer money. Postponing for a year was one thing, but cancelling was quite another. RIGHT: The Tokyo (almost complete) line-up L-R: Mark England (Team GB Chef de Mission), Emma Wilson, Chris Grube, Stuart Bithell, Hannah Mills, Alison Young, Luke Patience, Eilidh McIntyre, Charlotte Dobson, Giles Scott, Dylan Fletcher, Tom Squires, Saskia Tidey, Mark Robinson (Sailing Team Leader, RYA Performance Manager). Image: Nick Dempsey/RYA
TEAM GB
Giles Scott - GOLD AT RIO! Finn (Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy) Current ranking: 8 Giles Scott is a four-time Finn Gold Cup winner as well as Gold medallist at the Rio Games (with a day to spare), having missed out on London 2012 selection to Ben Ainslie. He is considered one of world’s best tacticians, and outside of the Olympic circuit he is a member of Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team. Giles actually enjoys kitesurfing too. D.O.B: 23 June 1987 Home town: Portsmouth Boat first sailed: Optimist Started sailing aged: 6 Started racing aged: 11
silver medal from London 2012 and a gold at Rio 2016 to show for it. Gold for Hannah Mills in Japan would make her the world’s most successful female Olympic sailor. Hannah Mills D.O.B: 29 February 1988 Home city: Poole Boat first sailed: Mirror Started sailing aged: 8 Started racing aged: 8 Eilidh McIntyre D.O.B: 4 June 1994 Home town: Hayling Island Boat first sailed: Catamaran
*Hannah Mills with Saskia Clark Image: Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy/World Sailing
Image: Joao Costa Ferreira
GOLD AT RIO!* SILVER AT LONDON!* Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre 470 Women (Women’s Two Person Dinghy) Current ranking: 1 Hannah Mills was already one of the most decorated British Olympic sailors of all time when she paired with Eilidh McIntyre in January 2017. With her long-term sailing partner Saskia Clark, Mills has established herself as one of the most dominant crews in the world, with a
SILVER AT LONDON!* Luke Patience and Chris Grube 470 Men (Men’s Two Person Dinghy) Current ranking: 10 Luke Patience and Chris Grube’s sailing relationship goes back a long way, although they parted ways in 2009 and found new sailing partners. However, just months before the Rio Games, Luke Patience was in need of a partner when Elliot Willis was diagnosed with cancer. And so the partnership between Luke and Chris re-started, and they went on to finish fifth in Rio.
Luke Patience D.O.B: 4 August 1986 Home town: Rhu, Scotland Boat first sailed: Optimist Started sailing aged: 7 Started racing aged: 9 Chris Grube D.O.B: 22 January 1985 Home town: Hamble Boat first sailed: GP14 Bala Sailing Club Started sailing aged: 10 Started racing aged: 10 *Luke Patience with Stuart Bithell Image: Rick Tomlinson
Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey 49erFX (Women’s Skiff) Current ranking: 5 Saskia only took up sailing when she was 15, but has shown that if you have the talent anything is possible. Eight years later she was representing Ireland at the Rio Games, but joined the British Sailing Team in 2017, eligible to compete under the Union flag through her father Don, and teamed up with Charlotte for a go at Tokyo 2020. Charlotte Dobson D.O.B: 5 May 1986 Home town: Rhu, Scotland Boat first sailed: Optimist Started sailing aged: 3 Started racing aged: 10
Saskia Tidey D.O.B: 11 June 1993 Home town: Dublin Started racing aged: 15 Image: Sascha Klahn
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell 49er (Men’s Skiff) Current ranking: 20 Up until late 2016, Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell were rivals on the water, but decided to team up with their sights set on Tokyo 2020. Their campaign started with a bang with wins in the 49er European and World Championships. We caught up with Stuart before he headed out to Tokyo, and you read all about their build-up to the Games on the next page. Dylan Fletcher D.O.B: 3 April 1988 Home town: Portland Boat first sailed: Pico Started sailing aged: 12 Started racing aged: 14 Stuart Bithell D.O.B: 28 August 1986 Home town: Portland Boat first sailed: Firefly Started sailing aged: 7 Started racing aged: 12
Image: Lloyd Images/RYA
Alison Young Laser Radial (Women’s One Person Dinghy) Current ranking: 21 Aged 13 Alison joined the national Optimist squad before moving into the Topper class and then the Laser Radial when she was 15. She was one of the final sailors picked for London 2012, finishing fifth on home waters. In the run-up to Rio, Alison made history by becoming the first British woman ever to win Gold at an Olympic class world championships, going on to finish eighth at her second Games. D.O.B: 29 May 1987 Home town: Portland Boat first sailed: Optimist Image: British Sailing Team
Emma Wilson RS:X Women (Women’s Windsurfer) Current ranking: 3 Emma’s first taste of a world title was at the age of 12 when she took the U15 Techno 293 World Championship. Moving to the Olympic class windsurfer, her success continued with the RS:X Youth Worlds title in 2014. With Emma’s determination to win, coupled with