Please select your home edition
Edition
GJW Direct 2024 Dinghy

Paris 2024 Day 7 - Silver for Morris; Wearn's dream day

by Australian Sailing 3 Aug 2024 22:36 BST 28 July - 8 August 2024
Arthur Brett and Grae Morris © Sailing Energy

Olympic debutant Grae Morris won Australia’s first sailing medal of the Paris Olympics when he took out Silver in the Men’s Windsurfing in Marseille today.

Morris qualified directly for the three-person Grand Final by virtue of finishing the Qualifying Series in first, and it was Tom Reuveny (ISR) and Luc Van Opzeeland (NED) who emerged from the Semi Final as his opponents.

The 20-year-old from Woollahra Sailing Club sailed close to the perfect race in the Grand Final and was ecstatic at the realisation that he had become Australia’s first Windsurfing Olympic medallist since Lars Kleppich won Bronze in 1992.

“It's the best feeling in the world,” said Morris. “I looked up to so many Australians leading up to this moment and to say I have a medal and to say it all paid off, I'm just ecstatic.”

Coach Arthur Brett had Morris perfectly primed for the race. The Aussie was first across the start line and the first top mark, but it was Reuveny who turned in third and split on his own to the left-hand side on the second upwind who nailed his lay-line and couldn’t be caught.

“I feel I did everything I could’ve done. I'm super happy and no regrets at all,” finished Morris.

Reigning ILCA 7 World and Olympic champion Matt Wearn relished the big winds delivered by the Mistral today. Much like he did in Tokyo three years ago, Wearn is dominating the middle stages of the regatta and his first and second in today’s two races have him set up beautifully in first overall with a 22-point lead over Brit Micky Beckett in second.

“It was a bit shifty with an up-and-down wind which made some good racing, but I made the most of it and had two good races,” said Wearn.

“Things are feeling pretty good at this point, another couple of days like that and I'll be happy.”

The big breezes certainly suited the Aussies today with strong days from Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas (Mixed Dinghy) and Zoe Thomson (Women’s Dinghy) shooting them both up the leaderboard to sixth and thirteenth respectively.

"It was a super tough day,” said Thomson after racing. “It was very physical so I'm pretty tired, but I'll go and recovery now and get into tomorrow."

Tomorrow will see the continuation of qualifying races for the three dinghy classes and the Mixed Multihull. Australia’s Breiana Whitehead will also commence her campaign in the Women’s Kitesurfing, with the reigning overall winner of this year’s Palma regatta keen to get her maiden Olympic regatta underway in the predicted 10-18 knots of fading Mistral.

Visit the Australian Sailing Team website for more information or see full results here.

Paris 2024 Olympic Regatta standings

Men’s Dinghy (43 entries)

1st: Matt Wearn (AUS) 12, 2, 1, (18), 1, 2 - 18 points
2nd: Micky Beckett (GBR) (19), 9, 15, 8, 4, 4 - 40 points
3rd: Pavlos Kontides (CYP) 17, 5, (27), 5, 10, 5 - 42 points

Men’s Windsurfer (24 entries) - Complete

1st: Tom Reuveny (ISR) 1 GF
2nd: Grae Morris (AUS) 2 GF - SILVER MEDAL
3rd: Luc Van Opzeeland (NED) 3 GF

Mixed Dinghy (19 entries)

1st: Keiju Okada & Miho Yoshioka (JPN) 1, 2, 2, (6) - 5 points
2nd: Lara Vadlau & Lukas Maehr (AUT) (20 BFD), 5, 3, 1- 9 points
3rd: Anton Dahlberg & Lovisa Karlsson (SWE) 7, (14), 1, 2- 10 points
6th: Nia Jerwood & Conor Nicholas (AUS) 6, (20 UFD), 7, 7 - 20 points

Women’s Dinghy (43 entries)

1st: Marit Bouwmeester (NED) (4), 1, 2, 4, 2, 3 - 12 points
2nd: Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN) 7, (26), 7, 2, 8, 4 - 28 points
3rd: Hannah Snellgrove (GBR) 17, (20), 6, 1, 1, 14 - 39 points
13th: Zoe Thomson (AUS) 12, (37), 22, 11, 16, 6 - 67 points

Mixed Multihull (19 entries)

1st: Ruggero Tita & Caterina Banti (ARG) 1, 1 (2) - 2 points
2nd: Mateo Majdalani & Eugenia Bosco (ARG) 2, 2, (5) - 4 points
3rd: Sinem Kurtbay & Akseli Keskinen (FIN) 3, (7), 4 - 7 points
13th: Brin Liddell & Rhiannan Brown (AUS) 11, 11, (13) - 22 points

Women’s Skiff (20 entries) - Complete

1st: Odile Van Aanholt & Annette Duetz (NED) 5, 1, 1, 10, 8, 5, (19), 3, 2, 15, 4, 14, 6 MR - 74 points
2nd: Vilma Bobeck & Rebecca Netzler (SWE) 14, 6, 15, 4, 15, 10, 2, 1, 5, 1, 1, (17), 2 MR - 76 pts
3rd: Sarah Steyaert & Charline Picon (FRA) 2, 2, 2, 8, 2, 2, 12, 11, 10, (18), 6, 10, 12 MR - 79 pts
9th: Olivia Price & Evie Haseldine (AUS) 6, 8, 16, 7, 11, 3, (20), 10, 9, 10, 10, 12, 18 MR - 120 pts

Men’s Skiff (20 entries) - Complete

1st: Diego Botin Le Chever & Florian Trittel Paul (ESP) (16), 6, 4, 5, 11, 2, 3, 2, 2, 15, 12, 6, 2 MR – 70 pts
2nd: Isaac Kale McHardie & William McKenzie (NZL) 1, 3, 8, 8, 1, 1, 11, (18), 17, 1, 10, 15, 6 MR - 82 pts
3rd: Ian Barrows & Hans Henken (USA) 8, 7, (17), 9, 9, 5, 10, 7, 3, 2, 8, 12, MR 8 - 88 points
15th: Jim Colley & Shaun Connor (AUS) 19, 17, 10, 14, 10, 9, 12, 3, 10, 3, 16, (20) - 123 pts

Related Articles

AST and B&G extend high-performing partnership
Continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team AST has announced the renewal of its long-term partnership with B&G, the world's leading sailing navigation and instrument specialists, continuing a collaboration that has been critical to the success of the team over the past eight years. Posted on 2 Jul
Australian Sailing welcomes new CEO
Malcolm Page OAM brings a wealth of experience to the role Australian Sailing is pleased to announce the appointment of respected sports administrator and dual Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page OAM OLY as its new Chief Executive Officer. Posted on 1 Jul
Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted on 30 Jun
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted on 25 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Zhik and Australian Sailing renew partnership
For a fourth Olympic cycle Zhik and Australian Sailing are proud to celebrate over a decade of partnership, one built on innovation, elite performance and podium success. Since 2013, the collaboration has helped deliver four Olympic gold medals and four silver medals. Posted on 20 Jun
Top 10 finishes for Aussie crews in Europeans
Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding week in Greece Australia's 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 sailors have wrapped up a demanding European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, with light winds, lengthy delays, and multiple general recalls pushing teams to their limits throughout the week. Posted on 9 Jun
Young Aussie squad ready to shine at Europeans
Australia's fast boat sailors are set for the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans in Greece Australia's fast boat sailors are set to take on the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships this week in Thessaloniki, Greece. With up to 18 races scheduled over the next six days, it's set to be a high-intensity regatta. Posted on 2 Jun
Event updates dominate this week's industry news
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The 36th annual Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) has once again cemented its status as the Southern Hemisphere's premier marine event, drawing an impressive 45,865 visitors over four spectacular days from 22-25 May. Posted on 29 May