Paris 2O24 Olympic’s Breiana Whitehead wins Princess Sofia, ILCA 6 silver for Zoe Thomson, Australian results
She was one of the first athletes named for the Paris Olympics and one of the Australian teams least known but that could be about to change for this sailing gun after a crazy win in Europe.
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She was the first – and virtually unknown – sailor named for the Paris 2024 Olympics but Breiana Whitehead has transformed into a medal contender with a crazy and historic win in Europe after a series of stuff-ups by a six-time world champion rival
Whitehead will race the new Olympic sailing class, the Formula Kite, in the waters off Marseille in the south of France where the sailing program will be hosted later this year.
On Sunday the Australian kiteboarder gave a strong indication she could be pressing for a medal with a stunning victory in a major lead-up regatta in Spain.
Whitehead claimed victory in the annual Princess Sofía Regatta – an event where an Australian teammate pushing for her own Olympic selection finished second in ILCA 6 sailor Zoe Thompson from Western Australia.
Whitehead’s major rival, six time world champion and American Daniela Moroz, incurred starting penalties which helped deliver Whitehead the shock victory she only learned about from her coach post racing.
It was a historic moment for Whitehead who is now the first woman ever to win a class at the famous regatta now in its 53rd edition after Olympic champions Mat Belcher and Will Ryan’s 470 victory in 2018.
It was a victory which left Whitehead lost for words and in shock despite the fact she had been in a medal position for most of the regatta.
“With so many great sailors here I am blown away,” said Whitehead who hails form Townsville but is based at Southport on the Gold Coast.
“To join so many great sailors who have won in the past like Mat and Will in 2018, it is amazing.
“It means that I’m on the right track to the Games and just keep chipping away at everything that needs to be perfected to get better. I’m excited, it’s a nice confidence boost on the way.”
While the victory will be celebrated by teammates the silver medal by Thomson has create a major headache for selectors who have yet to determine Australia’s representative at the Paris Olympic.
Tokyo Olympian Mara Stransky was in pole position ahead of the Spanish regatta but Thomson has pushed herself back into the mix with her silver medal – the same colour she won at the regatta in 2023.
In a show of strength from two sailors overlooked for Olympic selection in favour of their rivals, Sydney’s Laura Harding and Annie Wilmont finished eighth in the 49erFX class with Olympic bound Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine 16th. Sydney’s Jack Ferguson and Max Paul placed sixth in the 49ers while Olympic team members Jim Colley and Shaun Connor came home in 14th.
World ILCA 7 champion Matt Wearn, the defending Olympic Laser champion, finished fifth in Palma.
The Olympic sailing program will be played out from July 28 to August 8 with 330 athletes competing across 10 classes.
TOP AUSTRALIAN RESULTS AT PRINCESS SOFIA REGATTA 2024
Formula Kite Women’s – 36 Entries. 1st – Breiana Whitehead.
Formula Kite Men’s – 64 Entries. 21st – Scott Whitehead. (ASF)
ILCA 6 – 120 Entries. 2nd – Zoe Thomson, 4th Elyse Ainsworth, 9th Mara Stransky.
ILCA 7 – 194 Entries. 5th Matt Wearn, 7th Ethan McAullay.
Nacra 17 – 49 Entries: Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown, 13th – Rueben and Rita Booth.
49er – 88 Entries. 6th Jack Ferguson and Max Paul. 4th – Jim Colley and Shaun Connor
49erFX – 51 Entries. 8th – Laura Harding and Annie Wilmot. 16th Olivia Price and Evie Haseldine.
iQFOiL Men’s – 111 Entries: 19th – Grae Morris
iQFOiL Women’s – 79 Entries: 47th Samantha Costin.
Mixed 470 – 68 Entries. 24th – Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas
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Originally published as Paris 2O24 Olympic’s Breiana Whitehead wins Princess Sofia, ILCA 6 silver for Zoe Thomson, Australian results
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