Dual Olympian Weir announces retirement from Olympic Sailing

November 14, 2014 – Krystal Weir won a World Championship in 2004 as well as seven national and three ISAF Sailing World Cup titles throughout her Olympic sailing career in the Laser Radial class. She represented Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the three-crew Yngling team, where she finished tenth alongside teammates Karyn Gojnich and Angela Farrell, after they finished second at the Yngling World Championships. At the 2012 London Games she competed in the Laser Radial where she finished 12th.

Weir competed most recently in the Laser Radial at the 2014 ISAF World Sailing Championships where she finished 39th. She made the decision to retire from the Olympic side of the sport and to focus on her professional career as a physiotherapist.

“It has been an amazing journey from 2000 to 2014. I have had an absolutely amazing career in ‘Olympic Sailing’ with competing in the Olympic classes Yngling, RSX and Laser Radial, including my two Olympics, the World Champion title in 2004 as well as becoming Australian National Champion in the Laser Radial seven times.”

“It’s time to move into a new chapter of my life and there are so many amazing opportunities, which have recently opened up for me. One of my exciting new challenges will be in my working life as a Physiotherapist. I have recently taken up a new position with MHealth in Mentone, Melbourne.”

Despite retiring from the Olympic side of the sport, Weir intends to keep involved with sailing and to contribute to the development of the sport. She will also continue her competitive sailing career in other boat classes:

“I am still as passionate about the sport of sailing as I was, when I was seven years old at Elwood Sailing Club. I am now continuing to support the dream with Victorian Institute of Sport Individual Athlete scholarship holders and also in helping identify new talent with the Victorian Laser Association to encourage and grow the next generation. In my sailing life, I will be competing in the Viper Cat and also the Hobie16 in the 2016 World Championships.”

Weir, who is a member of the Sandringham Yacht Club, had a sailing scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport and was part of the Australian Sailing Team for four years in the period 2007 to 2012 and part of the Australian Sailing Squad 2014.

She offered her gratitude to a number of people for her sailing success. “Over my career I have had many people influence my journey and I would like to thank them for their support and guidance. A thank you goes to my first coach Lex Bertrand for sending me on this amazing journey and who has helped shaped the person I am today. My sponsors, especially Veolia Environmental Services, for supporting me from a young age, Sandringham Yacht Club and its members for all their support; Victorian Institute of Sport and Yachting Victoria for taking me on at such a young age and getting me through my injuries over the years; Yachting Australia for all the many coaches who have been involved in my career.”

“I am also extremely grateful for all my training partners and friends I have made along the way. There is no way that you can achieve your dreams without support.”

Yachting Australia’s Performance Director, Peter Conde, said: “Krystal has represented Australia well over a long period. We wish her all the best with her future career outside of the sport as well as on the water as she continues to compete in other boat classes. It is great to hear she will continue to support the sport of sailing in Australia on and off the water.”

by Cora Zillich

Photo © Richard Gladwell