FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 8, 2024

Marseille, France – The final day of racing for the USA brought light wind but heavy intensity for the first ever Men’s and Women’s Kite Medal Series at an Olympic Games. Markus Edegran (Ossining, NY) finished his regatta in 9th overall, and Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) ended in 4th.

In classic Edegran fashion, he opened his semifinal race with a port tack start along with Great Britain’s Connor Bainbridge. Edegran made a beeline out to the right side of the course and was leading the fleet until a crash took him off his board and dropped him back to 4th for the remainder of the race and a 9th overall result.

“It’s tough,” said Edegran. “I met my first goal of making the medal series, but I know I have it in me to be on the podium. I’m proud of my climb in the months leading here and proud of a solid performance at my first Olympics, but I’m hungry for more. I’m super grateful to the US Sailing Team for the support here on the ground and to my community back home who’s backed my efforts to be here. Representing Team USA this week has been an honor.”

Moroz started her day in Semifinal A, where she needed one race win to advance to the finals. In a neck-and-neck race, Moroz was narrowly beat by Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler but was fouled at the last windward mark by Lengwiler. Moroz swiftly won her protest, Elena was thrown out, and it was a ticket to Women’s Kite Finals for Team USA, joining France’s Lauriane Nolot, Great Britain’s Eleanor Aldridge, and Annelous Lammerts from The Netherlands.

The finals got underway as the breeze faltered. Moroz entered the first race in an advantageous position on the largest kite in her quiver as all other kiters missed the window to size up on shore for the dying breeze. Aldridge won the first race which stalled Nolot from taking the gold medal and kept the game on with another race for women’s finals.

In order to medal, Moroz needed to finish ahead of Dutch sailor Annelous Lammerts in the second race but came in just behind her, landing in 4th overall for her first Games in kiteboarding’s Olympic debut. The podium was filled out by Great Britain’s Eleanor Aldridge in first, France’s Lauriane Nolot in second, and Lammerts in third.

“It hurts a lot, and it will for a while,” said Moroz. “This sport is both beautiful and ruthless, and as athletes we chase the highs but risk the lows that are part of the journey. I’ve said plenty of times before that I practice conscious gratitude for those highs and lows, and this is now my ultimate challenge.

I respect the process of this competition and want to extend my sincere congratulations to Ellie, Lauriane, and Annelous who have shown me friendship on and off the water in this epic lead up to get here together.

I know I had the best team out there with me, on shore, and back home, and this result does not take away from how proud I am of the program we put together to represent the Stars and Stripes on the water this week. Go Team USA, forever and always.”

The United States concluded racing today in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, finishing with a bronze medal, five additional top ten finishes, and five newly minted Olympians.

“I said before the Games began that I was so impressed with the drive and work ethic I’d seen in each athlete, and that did not waver as we went through the toughest competition of many of their careers so far,” said Marcus Lynch, US Sailing Team High Performance Director and Paris 2024 Team Leader.

“I’m proud of this whole team and how every athlete, coach, and support staff member pushed to the very end of the regatta, leaving no stone unturned. Ian and Hans’s bronze medal was extremely motivating to their teammates here in Marseille and will serve as a positive example for those coming after them.

We have a special energy and camaraderie on this team that we’ve worked hard to achieve in the months building up to these Olympic Games. It’s an inspiring and collaborative culture that I know will foster a healthy atmosphere for new and returning athletes pursuing Los Angeles 2028. The next Olympics are on home turf, and it’s game on for Team USA.”

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes that competed in the sailing events and broadcast reruns, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Reineke Finishes Paris 2024 in 9th, Moroz and Edegran Advance to Kite Finals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2024

Marseille, France – Storm cells and shifts made for an interesting day on the Bay of Marseille for the Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) medal race. After delays on shore due to lack of wind, a storm cell brought 12-15 knots for long enough to complete the final ILCA 6 race of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) entered the medal race in 9th overall and out of contention for a medal, but gave it her all in her final race of her first Olympic Games. Reineke started her medal race with a competitive start at the pin end of the line, heading left before tacking in the bottom third of the beat. She rounded the windward mark in third, but was forced to spin on the first downwind leg after being flagged for Rule 42. Making a valiant effort, Reineke was able to gain some positions, finishing the race in sixth.

“It’s awesome to come away in the top ten at my first Olympic Games,” said Reineke. “I wish some of the racing at the end went a little more in my favor to have had a chance at the bronze, but that’s part of sport sometimes. You put your heart and soul into something and you have to be prepared for when it doesn’t go your way.”

“Overall, I’m extremely proud of this experience and my result,” she continued. “I’m really grateful for the team behind me and the people at home supporting me and everyone across the US who was watching the American flag on the water this week.”

Kite caddies had a busy day on the beach preparing new equipment as athletes made two kite changes before racing even began for their fourth day of competition. Athletes are allowed to register up to four kite sizes to use in various wind conditions, with larger kites for lighter wind and smaller kites for heavier wind. The fleet left the beach on large kites, quickly swapped in for smaller kites, and went back to large as the wind lightened yet again.

USA’s Markus Edegran (Ossining, NY) was first up to race in the Men’s Kite fleet and was holding down 3rd in Race 8 before the race committee abandoned the race and sent athletes back to shore in dying breeze.

“I was hoping to move up some spots today with more races, but I’m happy to advance the medal series,” said Edegran. “Making the medal series was one of my main goals at this Games, so I’ll start in 9th tomorrow and see if I can climb a few more places.”

“You’ve got to win races to move forward so it rewards risk taking and close-quarters racing,” continued Edegran. “Those kinds of conditions suit me well so I’ll definitely be giving some people a hard time tomorrow.”

“We’ve had so few races in this regatta because of the light wind, which has rarely happened in my time in this sport,” said Daniela Moroz, who has been kiting for 12 years, since age 11. “With only a handful of scores on the board, consistent low scores have been crucial to be able to advance to Finals. While I’m not in the exact position I was hoping for at this stage, I’m in the top spot of the Semis and am going to go out tomorrow and do what I know how to do – win races.”

For the first Kite medal series of an Olympic Games, the top two from the regular series go straight through to the final, while the remaining eight compete in the semi-finals, four in each.

Those seeded third and fourth after the opening series begin the semi-final with two wins to their names, with the fifth and sixth seeds carrying over one victory. The first person in each semi-final with three wins qualifies for the final.

This means a semi-final could be over in one race, should the top seed win and take their tally to three, or it could continue for an extended period if those without wins dominate the racing. Once one kiteboarder has qualified from each semi-final, the final four are set. As with the semi-finals, there is an advantage to qualifying well. The top overall seed begins with two wins, the second seed with one, and the rest start from scratch.

For the USA, Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) only needs to win one race to advance from semi finals to finals to join France’s Lauriane Nolot and Great Britain’s Ellie Aldridge. Markus Edegran must win three races to move from semis to finals in the Men’s fleet to join Slovenia’s Toni Vodisek and Singapore’s Maximilian Maeder.

Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow. For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

Reineke’s Medal Race Postponed; One Day Closer to Kite Medal Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2024

Marseille, France – Day ten of competition started in an all-too familiar fashion in Marseille with a wilting seven knots which is just on the cusp of sailable conditions for the Kiteboards. Erika Reineke’s Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) Medal Race was postponed to August 7, the USA Mixed Multihull and Mixed Dinghy teams ended their regattas, and the Kites made progress toward qualification for their Medal Series set to take place August 8.

The Kites managed to get racing in during the day’s best breeze, with the men taking the field first. Edegran had some of the best starts in the fleet which led him to two third place finishes in today’s two races. Solid starts positioned him nicely around the top marks and into the downwind parade of minimal lead changes – “which is what you want if you’re in front,” he noted. Edegran will enter tomorrow’s final day of regular racing in 9th overall, working to stay in the top ten to qualify for the Kite Medal Series on August 8.

“Today was all about going left on the course, so I knew I had to get to the pin and get involved,” said Edegran. “The pin was super competitive but I fought for it and got off the line clean both times.”

“It was frustrating to only get one race in but that’s how it goes sometimes,” said Moroz about the Women’s Kite racing. “I’m in the mix in a good spot and excited for the final day of opening series racing tomorrow. We have a better forecast coming up and could have a lot of racing, so I’m keeping my head in the game and taking it race by race.”

Moroz is in third overall and is also looking to keep her spot in the top ten to advance to the Medal Series on August 8.

While the Women’s Dinghy left the beach with the intention to race on time, the wind had other plans. The fleet drifted for two hours before the race committee officially called racing for the day due to insufficient breeze.

Today spelled the end of the Olympic regatta for US teams in two classes, the Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17) and Mixed Dinghy (470). After another light air day of sailing, both teams missed the cutoff for the top ten to be able to advance to tomorrow’s medal race.

Stu McNay (Providence, RI) finished his fifth Olympics with partner Lara Dallman-Weiss (Shoreview, MN) in 13th overall after scoring an 18, 22 during today’s racing.

“It was a tough day out there, we got some good starts but weren’t able to pull it together,” said McNay. “It’s the end of our condensed campaign, we had a good year and a half run and are psyched to have made it to the Games. We had greater hopes in terms of our result – on a personal level we both feel we could have performed a little bit better.”

Besides his accomplishment of participation at five Olympic Games, McNay, whose role on the search committee for the high-performance Director that ultimately led to the selection of Marcus Lynch, has made a significant contribution to the future success of the US Sailing Team.

“That’s how it goes in the life we lead, you pour your heart out for the campaign…it’s certainly emotional,” said Dallman Weiss. “I’m proud of what we put together. I know we’ll end on a high and grateful note, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult in the moment. We’re so grateful to our community of friends and family and supporters that have been our village for the last year and a half as we prepared to represent the US on Olympic waters once again”

Sarah Newberry Moore (Miami, FL) and David Liebenberg (Richmond, CA) concluded their first Olympics in 16th overall. They got the day off with a good start finishing race 10 in third, their highest finish of the regatta.

“It was nice to end on a high note with a 3rd place on our last day,” said Newberry Moore. “We put a couple more puzzle pieces together and experienced the potential we know we have. It’s a special way to end the event as this is the last regatta for us as a team. We are proud and grateful to be a part of the Olympic Team this year and to be able to represent the US on the world stage, and it’s nice to culminate our long relationship as partners here at the Games. We can’t wait to see what other Olympic and non-Olympic adventures the future holds.”

“We started sailing together at the beginning of 2018 so it’s been a long journey,” added Liebenberg. “And it wouldn’t be possible without the countless individuals and organizations who supported our goal of being here at the Olympics. To represent the USA at the highest level of sailing in a challenging and rewarding boat we both love is something we’re so proud of.”

Newberry Moore and Liebenberg wrapped their Olympic journey with a 16th overall finish at their first Olympic Games for Team USA.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

Reineke Advances to Medal Race; Light Air Plagues Bay of Marseille

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2024

Marseille, France – Light air plagued the Bay of Marseille once again, postponing racing and causing multiple race abandonments. Wind at 3-7 knots combined with big shifts beginning in the early afternoon meant only the Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17) completed their prescribed races today.

Despite the delays, the Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) got off one race, with Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) finishing in 26th – high enough to stay in 9th overall and qualify for tomorrow’s medal race. Conditions were challenging for all competitors, with many in the top 10 counting it as their drop race.

“It was a really shifty and tricky day, with little rhyme or reason for what was happening,” said Reineke. “Overall, a lot of really good learning lessons, especially with this being my first Games. I’m really stoked to make the medal race. Of course I wish I had a fighting chance for the medal, but I’m going to go out there tomorrow and work my hardest to win that race!”

In the medal race, the top 10 competitors from the regular series racing go head to head in one race worth double the points. The gold and silver medals have already been decided in the Women’s Dinghy class, with The Netherlands’ Marit Bouwmeester securing her second gold in a decisive victory, and Denmark’s Anne Marie Rindom entering the medal race with the silver medal secure.

Only one race of four was completed in the Kite fleets. Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) took advantage of the light winds, coming in second behind Swiss kiter and current event leader, Elena Lengwiler.

“I wish we could have done more racing; I was really enjoying these conditions,” Moroz told the Olympic Channel. “It was a bummer not to get more races in today, but I was able to post another really solid score and I’m hoping to carry the momentum into the next couple of days.”

“Racing has been super close, especially in the top four,” she noted. “It’s been so much fun being on the water and racing super hard – there’s so much action around the course! I’m feeling confident in what I need to do and I’m looking forward to the rest of the event.”

Men’s Kiter Markus Edegran (Ossining, NY) started and ended the day with a sixth place.

“It was a nice light air race. I put up a solid score so I can’t complain,” said Edegran. “Conditions are challenging but I’m hopeful we can complete some more of the series later in the week.”

In the Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17), Sarah Newberry Moore (Miami, FL) and David Liebenberg (Richmond, CA) stayed positive throughout the delays, but struggled to find a groove in the displacement mode sailing. They came away from the day with an 11, UFD, 15, finishing the day in 16th overall.

“Our heads were in a good place, even if we didn’t have the tactical decisions to back it up at times,” said Newberry Moore. “I think the windward mark approach has been alluding us a little bit. Today we lost points by being in lanes that were too tight at the windward mark.

“We saw everything from 4-7 knots. It was pretty choppy, mostly not foiling, and tactically was very challenging,” added Liebenberg.

The Mixed Dinghy (470) left the beach, but were unable to get racing off due to insufficient wind. Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and Lara Dallman Weiss (Shoreview, MN) remain in 12th overall. The pair is only one point out of the top ten needed to qualify for the medal race, with at least one day of racing left to go.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

Kiteboarding Makes Its Olympic Debut, Six Classes Hit the Water in Marseille

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2024

Marseille, France – As the first half of the fleets completed their medal races yesterday, today became a “business as usual” day as the remaining six classes continued to make progress towards the top ten to qualify for their respective finals series. Team USA sailors maintained relative consistency from yesterday’s overall scores, and Kiteboarding made its official Olympic debut as the newest sailing event.

Day eight of competition opened with 6-8 knots with the kite course, which caused the race committee to postpone for two hours as the kites needed at least seven knots to race. The men’s kites crossed the starting line for their first race in Olympic history at 3:49, and both fleets logged the intended four races to round out their first day of the Paris Olympics. Markus Edegran (Ossining, NY) and Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, CA) took to the water representing the US in Olympic sailing’s newest discipline.

Edegran opened his regatta with a 13-12-7-16 scoreline in a very tight fleet, ending his first day on the water in 13th.

“With the afternoon’s breeze shifting around a lot, there was a lot to play,” said Edegran, “It’s great close racing out there, and it feels great to be here and represent the sport and the country in kiteboarding’s debut.”

US Kiteboarding sensation Daniela Moroz took the tricky conditions with stride, shaking off the pre-regatta jitters to put up a very solid scoreline of 7-3-4-1. Moroz ended the day on a high note, winning the last race before heading back to the beach.

“Overall my racing improved over the day, which I was happy with,” said Moroz. “I got out the jitters – it’s almost like the first day of school jitters, but it’s the first day of the Olympics. I got those out of the way.”

Moroz noted the energy in the venue, and the enthusiasm within the US team after the Men’s Skiff team won bronze last Friday.

“It’s super cool to see my family, it’s really good energy and special to showcase the sport I love so much on a big stage,” continued Moroz. “The lead up in the last week was really tough as we weren’t able to train while other fleets were racing, but it was super cool to watch my teammates sail their medal races. Watching my teammates win a Bronze medal was a huge boost – it made me think, ‘if they can win a medal so can I.’ It was great for them and great for the larger program.”

The Mixed Dinghy (470) powered through light breeze and flukey conditions paired with leftover ocean swell from yesterday’s Mistral on the Bay of Marseille. Team USA athletes Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and Lara Dallman-Weiss (Shoreview, MN) stayed in touch with the fleet through the difficult conditions, scoring a 11-6 in the day’s two races which landed them in 12th overall for their third day of competition.

“We had to have our wind shift noses up and alert,” noted McNay. “We were rolling with the punches as best we could. We had some ups, had some downs, but I’m really proud of how we sailed and we live to fight another day!” There are two days of regular racing left for the Mixed Dinghy, where McNay and Dallman-Weiss will fight to make the top 10 in order to qualify for the medal race on August 7, weather permitting.

Erika Reineke had a day of opposites in the Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6). She pushed the starting line in race 7, resulting in a BFD, a black flag disqualification. Hungry for more, Reineke got a top tier pin start in the day’s second race, using her speed to stay ahead of the fleet and finishing second behind Hungary’s Maria Erdi.

The late afternoon breeze saw upwind foiling conditions for the Mixed Multihull (Nacra 17). Team USA’s Sarah Newberry Moore (Miami, FL) and David Liebenberg (Richmond, CA) scored a 14, 13, 16 over the day’s three races.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

9th for Noah Lyons in Men’s Windsurfer, Major Advancements for USA as Mistral Shakes Up Scoreboard

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August 3, 2024

Marseille, France – Marseille’s famous Mistral breeze came back today, bringing both physical and tactical challenges for sailors and breaking the light air monotony. Four classes took to the water for Team USA: Men’s Windsurfer, Women’s Dinghy, Mixed Dinghy and Mixed Multihull.

With the breeze up, it was an exciting quarter final for Men’s Windsurfing athlete Noah Lyons (Clearwater, FL). Swell was a large factor at the start, with Lyons getting caught on a wave next to Switzerland’s Elia Colombo and being forced to slow down in order to not surf over the line early. Having been put on the back foot at the beginning of the race, Lyons was unable to secure one of the top two positions that he needed to advance to the semis. He crossed the line in 5th, ending his first Olympic Games in 9th overall.

“I’m feeling happy but hungry,” said Lyons. “I’m proud of my results, and I’m proud of what my coaches Juanma and Pedro and I have achieved at this Games, but I’ll never be fully satisfied until I bring home a medal. I’m happy and proud but I’m hungry.”

“I met my goal of making the medal series at my first Olympic Games,” he continued. “Coming back to the beach to see my family and girlfriend with American flags was the most amazing feeling, and I’m so grateful for the community on the US Sailing Team and back home in Clearwater that rallied around me and made this possible.”

Elsewhere across the board, the US Sailors took advantage of the strong Mistral breeze and moved up the overall rankings.

With three races on the schedule, it was shaping up to be a big day for Women’s Dinghy sailor Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Reineke rose to the occasion, getting a great start and managing the left side to clinch a third in the day’s first race. Reineke continued her success in the big breeze, hiking hard to a 4th and 7th to finish off the day, landing her in 6th overall for her third day of competition, up from 20th.

Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and Lara Dallman-Weiss (Shoreview, MN) also saw improvement in their scores today. In the day’s first race, McNay and Dallman-Weiss won the left on the first beat, rounded in fourth, and were able to hold their place to finish in fourth overall. The pair scored a 13 in the day’s second race, moving them up to 9th overall from 18th.

The Mixed Multihulls in the Nacra 17 picked a gorgeous day for their first races, with excitement (and foils) high. Sarah Newberry Moore (Miami, FL) and David Liebenberg (Richmond, CA) opened their event with a 10-16-18 for 15th overall and three more days of regular series racing before the top ten advance to the medal race scheduled for August 7.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

10th for Roble and Shea at Paris 2024, Windsurfer Medal Series Postponed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2024

Marseille, France – After five days of racing on international sport’s biggest stage, Team USA’s Ian Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI) and Hans Henken (San Francisco, CA) brought home a bronze medal in the Men’s Skiff (49er) event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Read more about the first medal for the USA in sailing since Rio 2016 here.

In the Women’s Skiff, Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, IL) finished their medal race in 10th, ending their Olympic Games in 10th overall. While it was not the result the pair was hoping for, they enjoyed their time in the medal race and reflected on all the lessons learned over the last two quads.

“The Medal Race was really fun today,” said Roble. “We had really nice conditions that we’d been working really hard to improve our speed in for about a year now, so we were really happy with how things were going in the race. Unfortunately, a little error kept us away from finishing where we wanted to but overall we’re really happy with our start, our speed, and our tactics around the race course and having a great race.”

“The result here at the Olympics does not define who we are as people or as athletes. For us, these last eight years have also been about the process that we’ve followed as athletes and as people to be the best teammates, sailors, and people that we could be, and we showed up every single day.”

“I am so genuinely and deeply excited about the future of the US Sailing Team because the leadership is huddling around the athletes in a way that I’ve never experienced before in the last 15 years of my involvement with the Team,” continued Shea. “I’m so excited to see what this new group can do. I have never felt more taken care of and looked after than we have these last few months in Marseille. All we had to do was eat, sleep, and sail- and that, as an athlete, is the dream.”

As the skiff sailors returned from their medal races, the breeze died, keeping the Windsurfers on land. After a long postponement, the race committee once again decided to use the reserve day and canceled racing for the day. Noah Lyons (Clearwater, FL) will continue in the medal series tomorrow, August 3.

The Women’s Dinghy (ILCA 6) completed two races as they dug deeper into their event. Erika Reineke (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) ended the day in 20th overall, with 25th and 18th finishes today.

In addition, the 470s hit the water for their first day of the Paris 2024 Games. Race Committee was able to complete two races in the dying breeze, and USA’s most veteran athletes – five-time Olympian Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and two-time Olympian Lara Dallman-Weiss – finished the day with a 9th and 17th finish in the two races.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

Skiff Medal Races Abandoned, Will Go Again Tomorrow; Lyons Qualifies for Medal Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2024

Marseille, France – It was an emotionally charged day on the Bay of Marseille as the Men’s and Women’s Skiffs tried and failed to complete their medal races, while on the other end of the bay Men’s Windsurfer Noah Lyons clinched his entry into the Medal Series.

The Men’s Skiffs set out for their medal race with an intended start time of 1440. Race committee started not one, but two races, only for each to be abandoned due to insufficient breeze.

The men’s fleet floated around on the course and the Women’s Skiffs were sent off to pit lane to prepare, but at 5pm local time, the organizers called racing off for the day, turning to the event’s reserve days to prioritize more quality racing in better conditions. Olympic sailing schedules have backup “reserve” days built into the schedule for the race committee to use in case of poor weather conditions, and the skiffs had not yet needed their backup days until today. The fifth day of competition tested skiff sailors’ patience and their ability to stay focused and hydrated during a long, hot day on the bay.

“The waiting game is part of it,” said Maggie Shea, Team USA Women’s Skiff crew. “We are ready to go and grateful for another day for the wind to cooperate. The US Sailing Team did an incredible job keeping us cool, hydrated, well fed, and ready for action.”

“Considering all that happened today, I’m feeling really good,” said Hans Henken, Team USA Men’s Skiff crew. “We know what to expect for tomorrow and are looking forward to going out there again and giving it our all.”

On the Corniche course area farther from shore, the Men’s Windsurfers got the blessing of the day’s best breeze. Lyons knew all he had to do was stay top 10 in order to advance to the medal series, and with a 6, 14, 22 scoreline today, he did just that. Lyons dropped the 22nd finish – his final race of the day – to end day five in 7th overall.

“My goal was to make top-10 at my first Olympic Games, and I’ve already achieved that, so it feels great,” said Lyons. “I’m excited to push the envelope tomorrow, give it my all, see how high I can climb in the rankings, and enjoy my last day at the Olympics.”

There are three stages of the Windsurfer medal series: quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, each consisting of one race. The top sailor going in to the medal series progresses directly to the final, while sailors in 2nd and 3rd advance automatically to the semifinals.

The quarterfinal race decides the rest of the semifinal, with sailors ranked 4 through 10 racing against each other with the resulting top two moving on to the semis. Two sailors will then advance to the final from the semifinals to join the top ranked sailor from the opening series. The final race is a winner take all, with the race finishes translating to medals.

Along with the excitement of medal races, today saw the opening races for the Women’s Dinghy, the ILCA 6. Even with a delayed afternoon start, the fleet was only able to complete one of their two prescribed races. ILCA 6 sailor Erika Reineke was minted an Olympian today as she finished the day’s one race in 13th out of 43 competitors.

In the Women’s Windsurfer, Dominique Stater scored an 8, 20, 14, in the day’s three races, falling short of the medal race and closing out her regatta. While this is the end of her run in Marseille, Stater isn’t done yet.

“I had more to give than my scores reflected, and I wish I had climbed higher in the rankings but sometimes it doesn’t go as planned,” said Stater. “I have to remind myself of the work I did to get here and, regardless of the results, be proud of that accomplishment. I’m hungry for more.”

Because of the postponed Medal Races, day six of competition will be the regatta’s busiest day on the Bay of Marseille, with seven disciplines competing across four medal races/series and three in regular series racing. USA will participate in six of the seven tomorrow, bringing in Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and Lara Dallman-Weiss (Shoreview, MN) in the Mixed 470 for their first day of competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow.

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962

Both USA Skiffs Advance to Medal Race, Barrows & Henken in Gold Medal Contention for Paris 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2024

Light winds and scorching temperatures descended once again on the Bay of Marseille for day four of the Paris 2024 sailing events, providing a tense field for competitors on the last day before medal races for the Men’s and Women’s Skiffs on August 1. USA’s Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea will enter tomorrow’s Women’s Skiff medal race in 10th overall, and Ian Barrows and Hans Henken will enter the Men’s Skiff medal race in 4th overall with a chance at a gold medal.

The Men’s and Women’s Windsurfers spent long hours on the water attempting the first Marathon races of the Olympics but ultimately abandoned the valiant effort of two laps around the Bay after an hour to transition back to light wind slalom-style racing. The attempted Marathon races delayed the Skiffs, and all athletes had their mental stamina and resilience tested on the longest day of the regatta thus far.

Despite the sweltering heat, Ian Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI) and Hans Henken (San Francisco, CA) kept their cool, placing second in the day’s opening race. They were first to tack off the start line, chose the right side of the course, and kept their speed to hold the lead on the fleet, losing their bullet only to New Zealand on the final leg.

The breeze continued to change as the day progressed, and the USA Men’s Skiff team closed out the day with an 8th and 11th – moving them into fourth overall and putting them handily into the medal race. Barrows and Henken will enter tomorrow’s race in fourth with 80 points, 12 away from a gold medal.

“Our big goal at the beginning of this event was to go into the medal race with the chance of winning a medal, and that’s exactly where we are right now,” said Henken. “We’ll look at the numbers tonight, look at what we need to do, then go out and give it our all tomorrow.”

On medal race day, the top 10 finishers from the regular series take to the water for one final race where all finishes count for double points (1st now gets two points, 2nd now gets four, etc.) and major movements can happen on the scoreboard. The medal race drives excitement to the very end of the regatta. Tune in live to watch Ian and Hans go for the gold starting at 0813 on NBC’s Peacock.

After a challenging day on the water yesterday, the women’s skiff team of Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, IL) refocused their energy on the final three races of the regular series, with the goal of making the 49erFX medal race. They kept their finishes all in the top 10, scoring an 8th, 7th, and 9th, which put them in 10th overall and guaranteed them a ticket to the medal race.

While they are mathematically out of medal contention, Roble and Shea are looking to go into the final race with all the knowledge and experience of not only the past few days, but of their eight years sailing together in the 49erFX.

“We came off the water today feeling really proud of how we sailed,” said Roble. “Now we have a lot to fight for tomorrow, and we’re ready to put our best foot forward.”

“The regatta feels like it’s flown by so quickly so there’s obviously some mixed emotions but the goal today was to make the medal race and we did that, so we’re going to show up and fight tomorrow and see what we can do,” added Shea.

The Windsurfers had a difficult day with timing setbacks and changes of course styles due to insufficient wind. Race committee set out to complete the first Marathon races in history at an Olympic Games in both the men’s and women’s divisions, but had to abandon and reset to light wind slalom racing.

The women’s fleet was first to attempt a historic first Marathon race which was abandoned when USA’s Dominique Stater (Miami, Florida) was on her second lap and to the lee of Île d’If, one of the islands in the long distance marathon boundary. Stater ended her day in 22nd overall with five more races to come tomorrow.

On the slalom course, USA’s Noah Lyons pushed the limit resulting in a black flag for race nine in an otherwise excellent regatta for the first time Olympian from Clearwater, Florida.

“Today was a little bit of everything- some good moments, then I got a black flag, so some not so great,” said Lyons. “But in these races you have to push, and that’s the price you pay sometimes when you push too hard. I don’t regret anything. You have to give it everything you’ve got, and I definitely did that so I’m happy at the end of the day.”

Lyons rounded out the rest of his day with a 9th, 6th, and 11th to land in 6th overall. With five races remaining until the medal series contenders are decided, there’s still room for movement in the overall standings. Lyons will work to qualify for the medal series on August 2nd when scores reset and it’s anyone’s game for the podium.

The fifth day of competition is gearing up to be another light wind day on the water, but the intensity is brewing all the same for the first medal races of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow.

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Back in the Breeze for Paris 2024, Lyons, Barrows, and Henken Shine for Team USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2024

A welcomed change of pace greeted sailors on the Bay of Marseille for day three of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Unlike the previous days of competition, sailors hit the water without delays and were treated to winds in the mid to high teens. Men’s Windsurfer athlete Noah Lyons (Clearwater, FL) took full advantage of the fresh breeze, winning the day’s first race and setting a positive tone for the remainder of the day.

Lyons had the best start of the fleet on the slalom style course by starting at the pin at full speed and was able to run away with the race, staying ahead of Brazil’s Mateo Isaac in second and Poland’s Pawel Tarnowski in third.

He continued to post low numbers, even as the race committee moved from Slalom to Course racing, closing the day out with a third place and landing in 4th overall. “Today was windy and exciting – I couldn’t ask for much more,” said Lyons. “My goal was to avoid any deep scores or letters, and I achieved that. I was happy I was able to hold my results.” The Men’s iQFOiL will continue racing tomorrow, with five races scheduled to make up for the scrapped day one.

Lyons volleyed some good energy over to the Men’s Skiffs (49ers) as they took the stage in 15 knots of breeze. Ian Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI) and Hans Henken (San Francisco, CA) started their day with a 10th place and improved from there. As they adjusted to the new breeze, the pair scored a 7 in race eight, and wrapped up their day with a 3rd place – their highest finish in the event so far.

“We were consistent and ended on a good note, so we’re happy with a solid performance on a tricky day across the fleet,” said Barrows. “We’re definitely happy to be back in the wind – it feels good to stretch out the quads and hike out.” Barrows and Henken will enter day four of competition in 5th, just seven points away from 3rd.

Team USA’s Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, IL) had a challenging day, scoring in the mid teens. The entire Women’s Skiff fleet saw shakeups in the standings today, with the additional breeze changing the game.

“We weren’t in our mojo today,” said Shea. “But we have another full day of racing ahead and we’re staying focused on the next race right in front of us. Everyone in the fleet has had a bad race here and there in their scores, it’s just one of those kinds of regattas. We’re moving forward and looking ahead to a fresh day tomorrow.”

Dominique Stater (Miami, FL) in the Women’s Windsurfer added 5 more races to her scoresheet, with a regatta-best finish of 6th place in race four. Stater has two more days of regular series racing before the medal series on August 2nd.

Skiffs and Windsurfers will continue on for day four tomorrow as they near medal races on Thursday, August 1st for the Skiffs and Friday, August 2nd for the Windsurfing Medal Series. Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow.

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait at Paris 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2024

Marseille, France – The second day of sailing events at Paris 2024 opened to a familiar light wind start, but athletes and race committee alike were eager to cast off from shore and get racing. The Skiffs and Women’s Windsurfers came out of postponement around 1300 local time to take advantage of an incoming seabreeze which built to about nine knots. Team USA windsurfers logged their first races of the Olympics, and USA Men’s and Women’s Skiff both stayed patient, using their consistency to both move up to 6th overall.

Women’s Skiff team of Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, IL) came hot out of the gate, scoring a third in their first race of the day. After two general recalls leading to the race committee raising the black flag, Roble / Shea won the pin in race four and stayed in hot pursuit of the race leaders, Italians Jania Germani and Georgia Bertuzzi.

“Our goal today was to push it harder at the start – a goal that I’d say we achieved,” said Shea. “With the current and light air, it was tough to get off the line, but we were able to avoid catastrophe on the first start. It was a tough race course tactically and mentally as the breeze died and an element of randomness was introduced.”Windsurfers Dominique Stater (Miami, FL) and Noah Lyons (Clearwater, FL) made their official Olympic debut today and became Olympians upon crossing the finish line of their first race. With breeze between 6-9 knots, race committee sent the windsurfers on a Slalom course, one of three race styles they can choose from depending on the given conditions. Lyons flexed his strength in this course format, starting his Olympics off with a fifth place finish in what turned out to be the day’s only race.

“I definitely enjoy slalom – I like the fast paced racing. It’s super exciting, everyone is bunched together more and fighting for every inch,” said Lyons. “I was able to get a decent start, keep it clean and minimize risk taking.”

Dominique Stater began her Olympics with an 11 and 22 in today’s two Women’s Windsurfing races. After recovering from a sub-par start, Stater was able to come back to 11th in race one. A tactical error in race two caused her to fall off the foils, resulting in a 22nd place. “You lose so much in these conditions if you don’t keep on the foils,” said Stater. “But I’m excited that we’ve got more racing left and am staying positive.”

While the Windsurfing event has been on the Olympic program since Los Angeles 1984, Paris is the first Games featuring the iQFOiL equipment that flies above the water on hydrofoils. Today was a historic day in the world of windsurfing and Olympic sailing.

Ian Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI) and Hans Henken (San Francisco, CA) had another consistent day in the Men’s Skiff, starting the day with two ninth places. In the day’s final race, Barrows and Henken started at the pin and played the left – the winning side – to come out in fifth place, their best race finish yet.

“Today was challenging,” said Henken. “We had super light wind, just about at the lower limit for what’s sailable in the fleet. Wind that light puts a huge priority on finding clear air and open lanes, and Ian did a great job of putting the boat in some solid lanes today.”

Consistency has been key over these past two days, with only the top two teams having no double digit scores. By sailing conservatively, Barrows and Henken moved up the scoreboard from 12th to 6th, with only ten points separating them from the podium.

Skiffs and Windsurfers will continue on for day three tomorrow as they near medal races on Thursday, August 1st for the Skiffs and Friday, August 2nd for the Windsurfers. Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow.

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Consistent Opening Day for Team USA on a Challenging Day in Marseille

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2024

Marseille, France – The sailing events opened on the Bay of Marseille for the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, July 28 for four classes. Light, inconsistent breeze paired with choppy water presented a challenging opening day for all competitors. Despite hot and humid temperatures, an impressive crowd of spectators gathered on the seawall to watch the action and cheer for sailors.

After hitting the water in the morning with intentions to race, officials canceled the day’s schedule for the Men’s and Women’s Windsurfers due to light wind. Team USA athletes Noah Lyons (Clearwater, FL) and Dominique Stater (Miami, FL.) remain in high spirits, taking each hour as it comes and staying prepared for racing tomorrow.

“It was a long day, we had lots of waiting around,” said Stater. “I’m just trying to keep hydrated, eat food and stay set for the next day of racing!”

The Women’s Skiffs / 49erFXs were able to get off three races in the early afternoon. Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI) and Maggie Shea (Chicago, IL) had consistent and strong speed despite the light air, posting a 7, 11, and 10 to put them in 8th overall. With three days and a medal race remaining, Roble and Shea are only four points outside the top five. Apart from the racing, the pair is soaking up the experience of their second Olympics together as a team.

“Leaving the harbor today was extra special,” said Roble. “Seeing supporters cheering us on at the water’s edge—what an awesome vibe. We had a lot of fun putting it together and working hard for everything out on the water.” “We got chills spotting the American flags in the crowd; it felt surreal on the first day of the Games,” added Shea. “There’s no other place we’d rather be.”

In the Men’s Skiff / 49er fleet, officials were able to get off three races in the best breeze of the day, moving course areas farther west in search of wind. Ian Barrows and Hans Henken made their Olympic debut with an 8, 7, 17 scoreline, putting them in 12th overall. Unfortunately the pair saw a minor setback in race three, drawing a foul at the top mark which forced them to take a penalty turn.

“They say you can’t win a regatta on day one but you can definitely lose it,” said Henken. “We could have had a better third race but we’re still in it.”

The same four classes from day one will take the water for day two of competition tomorrow with hopes of first races for the men’s and women’s windsurfers. Viewers back home can catch the action on NBC’s Peacock with archived reruns to follow.

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Paris Olympics Set Sail in Marseille, France for 13 American Athletes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 27, 2024

The Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition will see 330 athletes from 65 nations race across the ten Olympic disciplines. Marseille will welcome sailors from 26 July to 8 August 2024.

Marseille, France – Over the course of 12 days, 13 American athletes in nine classes will take to the Bay of Marseille for competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following a shortened runway of three years due to the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. Against a dramatic backdrop of rocky Calanques and the classic city of Marseille, athletes will battle for the podium on the biggest stage in international sport. Sailing fans watching from the U.S. will be able to follow the racing both live and on replay through NBC’s Peacock streaming service, starting at 6:00 AM EDT on July 28 (3:00 AM PDT) with the Women’s Windsurfing events featuring USA’s Dominique Stater.

“We’ve had a fantastic final training block and settling period here in Marseille leading up to day one tomorrow, and I’ve been so impressed with the drive and work ethic that I’ve seen in each athlete,” said Marcus Lynch, USST High Performance Director and Paris 2024 Team Leader. “Athletes are dialed in on their programs and processes. We have an impressive support team of nearly 30 people spread across the discipline coaches and support staff backing them through 12 days of racing. It takes a village first to get here to get here and then to succeed, and I’m confident we have a great one on site in Marseille. Now it’s time to trust the training, do what we know, and take it one race at a time.”

49erFX sailors practice on the bay of Marseille with the Notre-Dame de la Garde in the backdrop. Marseille will welcome sailors from 26 July to 8 August 2024. ©Sailing Energy / US Sailing Team

Team USA Sailing for Paris 2024:

Ian Barrows & Hans Henken – Men’s Skiff | 49er
Markus Edegran – Men’s Kiteboard | Formula Kite
Noah Lyons – Men’s Windsurfer | iQFOiL
Stu McNay & Lara Dallman-Weiss – Mixed Dinghy | 470
Daniela Moroz – Women’s Kiteboard | Formula Kite
Sarah Newberry Moore & David Liebenberg – Mixed Multihull | Nacra 17
Erika Reineke – Women’s Dinghy | ILCA 6
Stephanie Roble & Maggie Shea – Women’s Skiff | 49erFX
Dominique Stater – Women’s Windsurfer | iQFOiL

For more about Olympic sailing, including scoring, boats/boards, and more, see World Sailing’s Media Guide. For detailed information on Team USA sailors, see US Sailing Team’s Team USA Media Guide.

65 of the best sailing nations in the world are set to compete in Marseille, with over 250 boats and boards sailed by 330 athletes. After days of settling in the Team USA base, rigging boats, and practicing on the Bay of Marseille, athletes are locked in and ready for racing that begins tomorrow.

Paris 2024 is the third time sailing will make an appearance at a French Olympics, with previous competitions first in 1900 and then in 1924. However, it will be the first Games with events in Marseille, which was chosen specifically for its epic conditions and characteristic “Mistral” wind that is guaranteed to provide a show when it funnels through the Rhône Valley and French plains.

Mixed 470 athletes Stu McNay (Providence, RI) and Lara Dalmas-Weiss (Shoreview, MN) take on the Mistral breeze during a practice day before the opening of the Games. © Sailing Energy / US Sailing Team

Paris 2024 will also make history: for the first time in the modern Olympic era, the games will have gender parity among athletes, with an equal number of male and female athletes on the field of play. Sailing is no exception, having added the Men’s and Women’s Formula Kite events and shifting the 470 to a mixed event in order to achieve equality on the water.

The US Sailing Team is entering this Games as the second-most successful Olympic Sailing Team in history, having won 61 medals since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896. The team is close behind Great Britain, trailing by three medals. Will this year be the chance to close the gap and take back the title of history’s most successful sailing team?

Covering all the action on NBC’s sailing broadcast will be veteran commentator Gary Jobson, who will be on the stream from 6am EDT to 1pm EDT each day. There will be two televised race areas per day, on the “Corniche” and “Marseille” courses. As the classes rotate through those two areas day to day, different athletes will be featured on the broadcast. See the full broadcast schedule below and on NBC: https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule/sport/sailing

For more information on the 13 Team USA athletes competing in the sailing events, on the racing schedule, the broadcast coverage and more, see US Sailing’s Olympics Page and Press Kit.

Contact: Allison Chenard, allisonchenard@ussailing.org | Press Officer, US Olympic Sailing | +1 (401) 342-7962