Talking noise with Craig Leweck

Competing in the Olympic Games offers that fairy tale moment that’s been in the dreams of every athlete.

So many have invested so much for the right to be the best in their country and the privilege to represent its flag. It is heady stuff… to the point it can explode your head. I really can’t imagine another time in a sailor’s life when there is such great opportunity to fail.
 
As sailors, all we know is what we have ever known. Very few of them are notable outside their circles. While the accomplishments might be remarkable, they tend to occur in general obscurity. Can you imagine the prospect of competing when you are equal parts athlete and celebrity? Sure, it is how athletes in many other sports operate, but for them it’s a slow build. For sailors qualifying for the Olympics, it can be a sudden shift.
 
If the national teams are doing their job, all forms of media are now interrupting a sailor’s routine. I am sure much of it is fun as the attention is not normally the norm. Their reality is the sailing press, but waking up early for hair and makeup before a network broadcast is another matter. All the attention can confuse the process. “Have I already won?” Ah… no!
 
But the noise is deafening. Prior to the Games, it is the full focus of all media. So many stories, particularly this time. Not all the headlines for Rio have been ideal. Every Games has challenges, and Rio is no exception. Nothing attracts an audience like drama and the media aggressively jumped on the opportunity. When the mission of each sailor is to prepare for and focus on the competition, the distractions become a significant foe.
 
Then there is the topic of control. When qualifying for the Games, the amount of control by each sailor is significant. After qualifying, keeping control becomes the challenge. Routines that were critical for success are now disrupted. Athlete decisions that once built confidence get made by others. Helping the national team now comes in conflict with helping each sailor’s team. Maintaining one’s “program” can get forgotten.
 
The infrequency of the Games doesn’t help. Screw it up and it’s a long wait for another chance, one that may not come as younger and hungrier athletes threaten your position. There is a long history of sailors making strategic changes in the build-up, deviating from what got them there, only to see these changes be the cause of their demise. A lot of favorites fail at the Games.
 
Before the Games, it all becomes quite a tyrannical tonic. The pressure of the moment is very difficult to train for. This is not the World Championship. Not even close, and every World Champion would gladly trade their trophy to stand on the podium. To fulfill the Creed is hard: “The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
 
Indeed, but like many slogans, words are easy. Executing is the hard part, and the Olympic Games is the hardest moment to execute. It is what makes the Games special, and is what gives meaning to those that can proudly call themselves Olympians.

Find information below on how to follow the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

RESULTS / ENTRIES
A full list of sailors racing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is available to view here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/qualification/sailors.php#.V6ZHvo6BLqM. Results will be available on World Sailing’s Olympic Website when racing starts on Monday 8 August here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/results/index.php#.V6ZH_Y6BLqM

LIVE TRACKING
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking. Live tracking will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_tracking.php

Live Tracking via the Sailviewer-3D Tablet App will be available for devices with 7″ or greater screens.

Click here to download the iOS Application – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sailviewer-3d/id912801278
Click here to download the Android Application – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stsportservice.sailviewer

COMPETITION STATUS
The Competition Status Screen feeds in straight from the Race Committee boats with the teams inputting data such as race times, course type, the status of each race and the plan moving forward. The competition status screen will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_tracking.php

LIVE BLOGGING
Sailing journalist Craig Leweck will be following the racing LIVE on World Sailing’s Olympic Blog throughout Rio 2016. Follow LIVE here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_blog.php#.V6dUbY6BLqM

PRESS RELEASES
World Sailing will be releasing international press releases after racing throughout the duration of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. All the latest news and reports will be available to read here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/news/index.php

TELEVISION
To find out who your Olympic broadcaster is, click here – https://www.olympic.org/rio-2016/broadcasters. The following link – http://go.olympic.org/WS – will redirect you to the Rights Holding Broadcaster in your country.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the event on World Sailing’s social networks:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ISAFWorldSailing
Instagram – https://instagram.com/isafworldsailing/
Twitter – @worldsailing
Snapchat – Follow our Story on Snapchat, search for worldsailing

USEFUL LINKS
World Sailing Olympic Website – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/home.php
Competition Schedule – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/about/schedule.php
Latest Olympic Sailing news – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/news/index.php
Online Notice Board – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/results/notices/notices.php
Social Wall – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/social_wall.php#.V6ZteY6BLqM