In recent history, the United States has struggled to make a mark on the Olympic sailing stage. Since 2008 when Anna Tunnicliffe took gold in the Radial and Zach Railey took silver in the Finn, only a single medal has been earned by Team USA: Caleb Paine’s Finn bronze in 2016. Unfortunately, 2021 did not break the dry spell and all thirteen sailors will be headed home empty-handed.
“Wish it went different, but wouldn’t change my road to Tokyo ever,” tweeted three-time Olympian Paige Railey after two UFD starts left her in 37th place in the radial fleet.
It wasn’t all bad news for American Olympians, however. Several finished top-ten and qualified for the medal races. RS:X sailor Pedro Pascual took 9th. Also in 9th were Nacra 17 sailors Riley Gibbs and Anna Weis and 470 team Stuart McNay and David Hughes.
The Netherlands won in the 49erFX, followed by Brazil and Germany. American sailors Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea finished in 11th place. In the women’s 470 fleet, Nikole Barnes and Lara Dallman-Weiss finished 12th, just missing the medal race with a UDF start in race 9. In the Finn class, Great Brittan, Hungary and Spain made up the podium, while American Luke Muller finished 13th. In the laser fleet, Australia, Croatia and Norway filled out the podium. American Charlie Buckingham finished 13th. China, France and Great Brittan made up the podium for the women’s RS:X fleet, with American Farrah Hall in 15th place. Winning the laser radial fleet was Denmark, Sweeden and the Netherlands, with Railey in 37th. New Zealand took gold in the 49er class, followed by England and Spain. There was no American entrant.
For more results, visit tokyo2020.sailing.org
