Olympic Sailing

I've looked for the Sydney race quite a lot and I can't find it anywhere. If anyone does please post a link because I have never seen it

There doesn't seem to be any doubt that the pressure at the games is way above worlds level. You can go to a worlds or two or three every year, but unless you're Paul Elvstrom three or four Olympic regattas is going to be the absolute tops for your entire career, and most people who get that far will probably only do one.

I do agree to the fact that there are better competitors from other countries, but the athletes are only really representatives of their country and you win gold for your country rather than yourself.

away from the main line of this thread, i just followed that link to the bbcs website and found this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7538750.stm

its a brief video of ainslies 'match race' in sydney, does anyone know where you can get hold of the full race? i would quite like to see it again

 

One thing being English used to be about was modestly getting on with
the job.

The moment the scum that is our media circus get their Hype hats on, we
tend to fall flat on our face and rightly so.

I hope they don't discover sailing, but fear it's already too late.

As for the competitors once the gun goes I'm sure they'll enjoy the
moment as any other race and if they are still enjoying it they should do
well. Its only if your brain figures its something other than a fun race to
be enjoyed that the rot sets in, The event after all should be about
competitors enjoying their skills at the top of their game, with an
emphasis on the word "game".

They are games, it is supposed to be fun and not to be taken as seriously
as all those that would organise, coach, commentate and self aggrandise
do to the process.

I wish them all luck, rather them than me, so much bullsh*t to cope with.

Edited by G.R.F

• 4 years preperation, international campaigns run by some of the best dinghy racers in the world
• 4 years of build-up, between the sailors, the media and those of us who just watch and pass comment of forums like this
• The greatest once-ever-four-years sporting contest in the world as a backdrop
• A one-off regatta with high stakes medal race at the end
• The chance, however small it may be for some, that they could have an Olympic Gold Medal at the end......

• No you won't get media stardom by winning
• No you won't get rich by winning
• No you won't be inundated with fabulous, highly-paid, job offers just for being there

But.... you may come back with an Olympic medal and I don't know many people who have one of those..... I'm just guessing that just competing gives you an experience you'll be able to smile about for the rest of your life.  I am utterly cynical about the way our sport is run at Olympic level and the way the classes are chosen, but I wouldn't take anything away from the dedicated individuals who have set goals to go to the games and compete or those who are ultimately successful