Talking Youth Worlds and Olympics with New Zealand's Alex Maloney

With the 2016 Aon Youth World Sailing Championships nearly upon us, World Sailing takes the opportunity to catch up with some people who know a thing or two about the event and the host country of New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Alex Maloney stepped on to the podium at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with her 49erFX partner, Molly Meech, to receive the silver medal as a proud kiwi after one of the most thrilling Medal Races in history. Maloney had used the experience and knowledge bank she had built up over the years to gain an Olympic silver medal, an achievement that was helped by her three appearances in double handed fleets at the Youth Worlds.
 
World Sailing Press Officer, Richard Aspland, caught up with Maloney to talk about sailing in the Youth Worlds and Olympic Games.
 
Richard: So, obvious first question, when and where did you compete?
Alex: I competed in the 2008 Youth Worlds in Aarhus, 2009 in Buzios and 2010 in Istanbul.
 
R: Was it all in the same class?
A: My first one was in the 29er, then the 420 the following year in Buzios with Bianca Barbarich Bacher. Lastly, I competed in Istanbul in the 29er Open class, with a friend Sam Bullock.
 
R: So you changed it up a bit?
A: The double handed classes frequently were swapping depending on the host nation back in my day, but there were a lot of learnings as a result!
 
R: Tell me about your experiences.
A: I would say the first few were good eye openers as we were young and everything was pretty exciting in terms of the nature of the event, the travel, and the combining of cultures.
 
R: And how did you do?
A: We placed fourth in both 2008, and 2009, which left me hungry to better that for my final youth year. For Turkey we enjoyed the 29er, the atmosphere and sailed a good event in challenging conditions.
 
R: What was your main take away from the events?
A: Overall my experiences from the Youth Worlds definitely left me with the realisation that I really do love sailing and that I’d love to be able to do it on a bigger world stage.
 
R: What did the Youth Worlds teach you about your sailing?
A: I think sailing is an accumulation of so many different experiences that you gain each day out on the water. There is a huge storage bank of knowledge in different situations etc., and all of it adds up to make every sailor who they are today.
 
R: So its about gaining experience for the future. Anything else?
A: It also teaches you how to approach a regatta, learning work ethic, but more importantly making sure to carry on with the same enjoyment for the sport is key.
 
R: You do always look like you enjoy sailing. You must have enjoyed Rio 2016?
A: I loved almost every moment of the three weeks. You dedicate a large chunk of your life to the goal, and to go over there [to Rio] feeling ready and in a place to enjoy the experience was awesome.
 
R: Are there any similarities between the Youth Worlds and the Olympics?
A: Yes. Having a hub of international sailors in one place, the combining of cultures and the friendships formed are very similar.
 
R: Would you have liked to have competed at the Youth Worlds in New Zealand?
A: For sure! Having it in your own back yard is a great chance to show case the sport to the NZ public and the opportunity to share it with friends is amazing!
 
R: If you could give any advice to the sailors competing this year, both from New Zealand and around the world, what would it be?
A: Keep open minded, and enjoy!
 
The Aon Youth Sailing World Championships, the 46th edition, will take place from 14 to 20 December 2016 in Auckland New Zealand with more than 380 sailors from 66 nations sailing competing in more than 260 boats across nine disciplines.
 
Website – www.isafyouthworlds.com/home.php