Buckingham, Lepert, Pascual Earn US Olympic Team Selection

Palma de Mallorca, Spain (April 1, 2016) – American sailors Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.), and Pedro Pascual (Miami, Fla.) have won selection to the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Team in the Laser, Women’s RS:X and Men’s RS:X classes, respectively, based on their combined results at January’s Sailing World Cup Miami (January 25-30) in Miami, Florida, USA, and the Trofeo Princesa Sofia (March 25 – April 2) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Men’s Laser:
Laser athlete Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) has earned selection to the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team based on the results of the US Sailing Olympic Athlete Selection Series in the men’s one-person dinghy. The Laser North American Champion has been the top U.S. athlete in this class for four years, and has represented the United States at the Pan American Games and during two test events at the 2016 Olympic venue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will be the first career Olympic Games appearance for Buckingham. Full report.

Women’s RS:X:
RS:X athlete Marion Lepert (Belmont, Calif.) has earned selection to the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team based on the results of the US Sailing Olympic Athlete Selection Series in the Women’s Board. This will be the first career Olympic Games for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games bronze medalist. Full report.

Men’s RS:X:
RS:X athlete Pedro Pascual (Miami, Fla.) has earned selection to the Rio 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team based on the results of the US Sailing Olympic Athlete Selection Series in the Men’s Board. This will be the first career Olympic Games appearance for Pascual, who is taking time off from his studies at Florida Atlantic University to pursue his dream of representing the United States in Rio. Full report.

Team Tracker: Updated
For each class, the selection series for Team USA will consist of two regattas. The sailor or team with the best combined scores from the two events (lowest combined points) will earn selection. Eleven of fifteen Olympic-class athletes have been selected to date. Only the Men’s and Women’s 470 teams have yet to be confirmed. Details.

Report by Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing.