Paris Olympics 2024: Grae Morris wins first medal for sailing in iQFOiL wind surfing class
Three years ago internationals cold shouldered him as a training partner because they didn’t think he was good. Now the youngest iQFOiL windsurfer at the Olympics is our first sailing medallist.
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Three years ago, no one wanted to train with young windsurfer Grae Morris because they thought he was “useless”. Now the youngest, least experienced man in the iQFOiL fleet owns a historic Olympic silver medal.
The hulking 20-year-old former schoolboy rugby player has barged his way to the elite echelons of the sport with raw talent, dedication, determination and a laid back charm which has made him a crowd darling.
At the Marseille Olympic regatta he went from “being an idiot” and languishing at the rear of the fleet to winning the lead-up racing to earn an automatic spot in the three-board final in which he finished second behind Israeli Tom Reuveny.
“I have never felt something like this in my life before and it is wonderful; I want more,’’ said an elated Morris, who said he left his heart and soul on the water in the best race he has ever done.
“From day one really I have wanted to be an Olympian and it’s the best feeling in the world.”
It is an extraordinary result for the young talent and the foiling program headed up by Arthur Brett, the former coach of Laser great Tom Slingsby and the man Morris said is the “best coach in the world”.
“At the start we had a situation where no one wanted to train with us because they thought we were useless,’’ Brett said. “We didn’t have the results on the board and this is what the rest of the world thought.’’
Morris and New Zealander Josh Armit then formed an alliance which saw both of them win races at the Olympics and Morris, at just 20, become the youngest male sailor to win a medal for Australia,
He is also the first windsurfer in almost three decades to achieve the feat.
“Noting beats this. Northing,’’ said Morris after rushing to the barricades to hug his parents and sister who have been in Marseille cheering him on.
Morris said his father Brett, a top windsurfer himself, has been integral in his success on Olympic debut.
“He worked very hard to get me here where I am and I can tell he’s very proud,’’ Morris said.
Morris also revealed he watched videos of top sporting superstars to see how they managed to achieve with so many distractions around them.
“People like Michael Phelps, the American basketballer, athletes who have it so much worse in terms of the media attention they get, outside distractions,’’ he said.
“It seems to have worked.’’
Morris advanced to the three-board final courtesy of finishing in the No.1 spot after the qualifying series.
He then watched his rivals vie for the two remaining positions in the medal final in quarter final and semi-final races on Friday before meeting Dutchman Luuc Van Opzeeland and eventual gold medallist Reuveny in the medal showdown.
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