Tokyo 2020: Jaime Ryan, Tess Lloyd, Will, Sam Phillips in Olympic sailing team
It is quite seriously a miracle these two sailors are heading to the Tokyo Olympics with one almost killed in the pursuit of her sport.
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Jaime Ryan has loved sailing for as long as she can remember but the sport almost killed the woman she will be racing beside at the Tokyo Olympics.
Lake Macquarie’s Ryan said she is in awe of her on-water partner Tess Lloyd who has made a miraculous comeback from a shocking accident which left her in coma for two weeks and required brain surgery.
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So serious were the head injuries Lloyd sustained when her 29er skiff and a windsurfer collided during a regatta in Brisbane in 2012, she had to learn to walk and talk again during an extensive rehabilitation.
Her memory was also badly affected for some time although Lloyd always remembered she “loved sailing’’.
“I am so proud of her and so happy for her to get to the Games this time,’’ said Coal Port’s Ryan, 25, whose brother Will, a multiple 470 world champion and Rio silver medallist, has also been selected for Tokyo.
“She has a pretty inspiring story and she brings such drive and determination with her.
“We are so excited to be together. It is kind of a miracle we are both here and going for an Olympics.’’
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The pair joined forces in the wake of the Rio Olympics where Ryan competed in the 470 dinghy and Lloyd watched from home after a controversial decision not to send a team despite qualifying in the female 49er FX class which made its Olympic debut in 2016.
“I’m, so glad I didn’t give up from that,’’ said Lloyd, now 24, who finished 10th at the recent 49er FX world titles with Ryan.
“It just really made me more determined to make it this time.
“The accident is behind me now. The aspiration is to step things up to another level in the next six months and really be going for a medal in Tokyo.’’
Joining Ryan and Lloyd and the already preselected Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (470) and Matt Wearn ( Laser) in Tokyo are Victorian brothers Sam and Will Phillips.
The siblings finished fifth at the recent world championships.
Originally the Australian Olympics Committee were to name the Nacra 17 team but it is understood this has been delayed due to an appeal.
This spot is being contested by Northern Beaches cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin, who won silver at the Rio Games, and brother and sister Nathan and Hayley Outteridge.
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