Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Officially Announces Sailing Team

Following on from Yachting Australia’s nomination of its Olympic Sailing team, the Australian Olympic Committee has now confirmed the team.

Colin BEASHEL has won selection for a record for an Australian athlete of representing Australia for his sixth Olympic Games.

Beashel from Sydney will represent Australia in the Star Class. His Olympic career started in Los Angeles in 1984. Since then he has worn the green and gold for Australia in Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

“Very few Olympic careers span more than 20 years and Colin is to be congratulated on his unique achievement” said AOC President John COATES.

Beashel has previously won a bronze medal with his partner David GILES in the Star Class in Atlanta. They are members of a very experienced Sailing Team announced today by the Australian Olympic Committee.

Sailing is aiming to improve on their performance at the 2000 Sydney Games where they won two gold, a silver and a bronze.

The successful gold medal women’s double-handed combination of Belinda STOWELL and Jenny ARMSTRONG are back together for Athens.

The Sydney silver medallists John FORBES and Darren BUNDOCK are racing again in the Tornado Class.
And Michael BLACKBURN who won Bronze in Sydney in the Laser is also lining up again in Athens.

The four medals placed Sailing as our second most successful section in Sydney behind the swimmers with 18 medals.

The Team for Athens is as follows:

Beashel’s feat of six Summer Olympic Games is likely to be equalled when the Equestrian Team is selected later this year and Andrew HOY is picked for his sixth Summer Olympics.

Winter Olympian Colin COATES achieved the milestone of six Olympics for Australia in Speed Skating.