TOKYO 2020 PREVIEW

The postponed and pandemic struck Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is scheduled to open on July 22. Due to the pandemic, it will be a very different Games for everyone, but the racing on the water will be as tough as ever. Racing runs from July 27 to

August 3 with just 19 Finn sailors taking part as athlete numbers continue to be reduced.

Most of the fleet were selected at the 2018 Finn Gold Cup in Aarhus and 2019 Europeans in Athens, with the rest from continental qualifiers. Looking at form, the fleet can be split into three distinct groups. Five sailors have proven ability to take home major events and win medals. Another nine have strong medal potential but have not been on best form recently.

While defending champion Giles Scott still has a target on his back, he will have a very hard time to win back-to-back Olympics. He has not won a major event since the 2019 Europeans, while the likes of Josh Junior, Zsombor Berecz and Joan Cardona are growing in confidence and have made the headlines – usually reserved for Scott – at recent events.

Nicholas Heiner has been pushing the front for the last four years, but has been a bit inconsistent this year despite lots of race wins. However, if the week in Enoshima goes his way, he will be pushing for gold.

The other nine medal contenders are a mix of former World and European champions together with a lot of young talent at their first or second Olympics. All them are quite capable of medalling. The key factors in Tokyo will be coping the extreme heat, not getting distracted by the COVID restrictions and requirements, and being adjustable to the many different conditions expected in Enoshima, from light, shifty and tidal days to huge swells and strong winds. Shifting gears day to day and race to race will be essential for success, as will a flexible mindset. There is no real form for the venue; no one, apart from Japanese will have trained there since the 2019 test event, an unheard of phenomenon at an Olympic venue, but perhaps also a great equaliser for those on limited travel budgets. Whatever else happens, this will be an historic Olympic Games for many reasons, not least because it could well be the last Olympic Games where the only truly remaining Olympic boat is being used.

ARG - FACUNDO OLEZZA

Second Olympics for Olezza after a ninth in Rio where he won two races. Has been at the front of the fleet since then, though a major win or medal has escaped him. Placed a lowly 14th and 15th at this year's major championships.

AUS - JAKE LILLEY

After 16 months with no international competition, Lilley picked up an eighth place at the Europeans and a seventh at the Finn Gold Cup. Tokyo will be his second Olympics after finishing eighth in Rio.

BRA - JORGE ZARIF

Tokyo will be Zarif's third Olympic appearance after a fourth on home waters in 2016 and a 20th in 2012. He became the only person to win the Finn Silver Cup and Finn Gold Cup in the same year in 2013.

CAN - TOM RAMSHAW CHN - TBD ESP - JOAN CARDONA GBR - GILES SCOTT

After a lowly 21st in Rio, Ramshaw bounced back strongly with a string of top places including fifth at the Aarhus Sailing World Championship in 2018. Good at starting and closing out regattas, but inconsistent in the middle. 27th in Gold Cup and 10th at Europeans. The Chinese representative is still unannounced as this issue goes to print. He Chen, above, won selection for China at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event in 2019, but it is not confirmed who will sail for China at the Olympics.

Qualified for Tokyo at the incredibly tough and competitive Finn Gold Cup in Porto with a spectacular second place. A three time U23 European Champion as well, he is one of sailing's most exciting young talents and a definite contender for a medal. Will be the youngest in Tokyo.

After dominating the quad into Rio 2016, his preparation for Tokyo has been more fragmented because of America's Cup commitments. However he is defending Olympic Champion, and has four Finn Gold Cups under his belt, and still the most successful sailor in the fleet.

GRE - IOANNIS MITAKIS

European champion way back in 2012, Mitakis picked up a ninth at the Europeans and a 12th at the Finn Gold Cup this year. Tokyo will be his third Olympics after 14th in London and 11 in Rio. Generally has performed better in light winds.

HUN - ZSOMBOR BERECZ

One of the absolute favourites, he won his second European title this year and placed fourth at the Finn Gold Cup. Also won the test event in Tokyo in 2019 and the 2018 Finn Gold Cup. Rarely out of the medals in the last three years.

JPN - KAZU SEGAWA

After failing to win selection for Tokyo in the Laser, he switched to the Finn and trained hard through the pandemic. At the Japanese trials in May he won all 12 races to beat all the sailors who had trained for three years.

MEX – JUAN IGNACIO PEREZ

Coming into the class quite late in the quad, he won the place for Mexico at the North American continental qualifier in Miami in 2019. Has won races at minor events. Yet to break into the top 10 internationally, but improving all the time.

NED - NICHOLAS HEINER

Former Laser World Champion who switched to the Finn in 2016. Since then he has been pushing the front, but has yet to secure a major win, despite a string of medals, including second at the 2019 Gold Cup. One of the favourites for a medal.

SWE - MAX SALMINEN

The 2017 World Champion has struggled with consistency of late, placing 17th in the Gold Cup and sixth in the Europeans. Tokyo will be his third Olympics after winning Star gold with Freddy Lööf in 2012 and a disappointing, for him, sixth place in Rio in the Finn.

NOR - ANDERS PEDERSEN

After some outstanding results over the years, Tokyo will be his second Olympics after a 17th in Rio. Capable of winning races, but finished a deep 20th and 26th at this year's major events.

TUR - ALICAN KAYNAR

Third Olympics for Kaynar after a 13th in Rio and an 18th in London. Has been in the top group for the last four years, winning many races and regattas, and quite capable of medalling with a consistent week. Followed a fifth at the Europeans with a 21st at the Gold Cup

NZL - JOSH JUNIOR

Despite losing the Finn Gold Cup to Andy Maloney, the 2019 world champion was selected for Tokyo for his second Olympics, with Maloney as coach. Seventh in Rio 2016, he is undoubtedly one of the favourites based on recent performance.

USA - LUKE MULLER

Since switching to the Finn in 2015 he has made steady progress, but made big gains over the past year leading to a sixth place at this year's Finn Gold Cup. The youngest ever US Laser National champion in 2013, he could be the surprise package in Tokyo.

RSA - LEO DAVIS

Took the African continental place at the 2021 Finn Gold Cup. Trained for rowing in Rio but wasn't selected, then switched back to sailing. Sailed Finns on and off since 2009, with national success but little international competition.

VEN - ANDRES LAGE

Qualified at the South American Continental qualifier in Rio in March 2020. He stopped sailing and took part in Ironman contests after moving to Spain, but then decided to try the Finn, receiving support from other sailors and the Finn development programme.