Bronzed Aussies Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin chasing Olympic sailing spot
They won a silver on debut at the Rio Olympics. But Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin are still waiting to hear if they will even get a chance to chase gold in Tokyo.
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He’s got nerves of steel on a racetrack but off it Jason Waterhouse faces an anxious wait to see if he is heading to Tokyo for a second Olympic Games with cousin Lisa Darmanin.
The 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallist is hoping to know by later this month if he and Darmanin will be given the chance to go one better than the silver they won at the Rio Olympics with a ticket to Tokyo.
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The pair from the northern beaches overcome major dramas with clumps of weed to finish with a bronze medal at the world Nacra 17 championships at Geelong over the weekend.
A place ahead were he and Darmanin’s Australian rivals for the spot in Tokyo - former Olympic 49er skiff gold medallist Nathan Outteridge and his sister Haylee.
“It is a bit of a nervous wait. I don’t get nervous sailing but I do waiting,’’ said Waterhouse, who with Darmanin won the first Tokyo Olympic test event in 2018 and finished third at the 2019 world titles in New Zealand late last year where the Outteridge’s placed 13th.
“Nervous a bit, but also super proud.
“It was good, really happy with the result of two podiums at two world championships with completely different conditions.
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“We are the only ones who have done that and we have proven consistent.’’
Hindering the cousins bid for the world title was the weed-infested water.
In one crucial race they were leading when they hooked weed on their rudder and fell back into last place.
“We had lots of issues with the seaweed. To be fair a lot of us did,’’ said Waterhouse, now preparing for the Sydney opener of the 2020 SailGP sailing series on Sydney Harbour next week.
“One race we were leading and hooked it. It is hard to swallow.’’
Waterhouse is part of the Australian SailGP crew preparing to defend the title they won in the series in last year’s inaugural season.
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Originally published as Bronzed Aussies Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin chasing Olympic sailing spot