Paris 2024 Olympics: Light winds put Matt Wearn’s quest for gold on hold but history beckons

A gold medal is unlikely to deliver Matt Wearn fame and fortune but it would earn him a special place in history and membership of sailing’s most exclusive clubs.

Matt Wearn will win a second medal at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

When the wind in Marseille finally plays ball, defending Olympic ILCA 7 champion Matt Wearn will earn membership of sailing’s most exclusive clubs.

Wearn was unable to race for gold in the Bay of Marseille on Tuesday when the wind died out, leaving the Mediterranean decidedly pondlike.

Officials are now hoping to run the Medal race on Wednesday local time, a lay day put aside for unpredictable wind - or in this case, lack of any but a whisper.

An overall victory - something he can achieve by finishing top seven in the 10-boat finale - would see Wearn become only the third Australian to own two gold medals alongside Tokyo and 2012 London 470 gold medal winning skipper Mat Belcher and 470 crew Mal Page in 2008 and 2012.

Silver, which he is already guaranteed, will see the Perth sailor become only the seventh multiple Australian medallist with Belcher (two gold, one silver), Page (two gold), 49er sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (one gold, one silver) and Tornado catamaran sailors Darren Bundock (two silver) and John Forbes (silver and bronze).

Australia's Matt Wearn is on course for medal glory in Marseille. Picture: Clement Mahoudea/ AFP

Whichever the result, Wearn is not expecting a lot of fanfare in real life post the Games.

When he won a gold in the Laser class - renamed the ILCA 7 at these Games - on debut in Tokyo three years ago there were no sponsors waiting in the wings, red carpet rolled out or lucrative deals on offer.

Matt Wearn has a 14 points lead over his nearest rival.

There weren’t even that many people who recognised Wearn in the streets of his hometown of Perth - although local yachts club he was in high demand from young sailors.

“I don’t do it for the money but you see swimming and other sports with big backing from Gina Reinhart and sponsors,’’ said the newly married Wearn, who has had some help from a private benefactor and a sponsor briefly post Tokyo but has a lower profile than almost any other Olympic champion.

“It’s a bit rough. You see it changing their world from a financial point of view and we blend back into society and no one knows who you are.’’

While Wearn waited for wind kiter Breiana Whitehead was one of the few Aussies who got to race on Tuesday.

While scheduled to tackle five races, officials managed to get just one away with Whitehead finishing eighth to hold onto seventh place overall in the Formula Kite class.

Also racing were Australians Nia Jerwood and Conor Nicholas who posted an 8th and 15th to qualify for the 470 mixed medal race which officials are also hoping to run on Wednesday with the ILCA men and women and Nacra 17 deciders.

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