Caleb Paine ends Tokyo 2020 bid

When the escalation of the COVID-19 disease began impacting the competition calendar, the US Sailing Team had completed their 2020 Olympic Trials in seven of 10 events, with the final stage to determine the Finn representative among the cancelled events.

Luke Muller was leading 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Caleb Paine by 6 points going into the 2020 Worlds on May 8-16, but now with Tokyo 2020 postponed a year, and without a plan for how to resume competition, Paine has decided to end his Olympic campaign and turn his focus to other areas of the sport.

“This was a very difficult decision,” said Paine. “I am so grateful to my coach, Luther Carpenter, my teammates, the whole US Sailing Team staff, my campaign donors, and everyone who supported me and the national team for over a decade in the Finn class.

“Winning a Medal in Rio was a huge honor and absolutely a full team effort. I just feel really fulfilled in my Olympic career and am ready to move on to other challenges in sailing.”

That accomplishment earned him the title of US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. Paine is also a five-time World Cup Medalist and recently took the Gold at the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Miami.

As he shifts his focus away from the Finn, Paine looks forward to a role with New York Yacht Club American Magic, a Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup.

“My first project will be to join American Magic in Auckland,” he said. “The plan is to work hard, learn from an amazing group of sailors, and try to contribute any way I can to bringing the America’s Cup home.”

Olympic Head Coach, Luther Carpenter, who has coached Paine for the last six years, has only fond memories of their time together.

“When we joined forces in the years leading up to Rio, we had an incredible program of focus and hard work,” notes Carpenter. “Rio’s Olympic Regatta itself was the perfect example of consistent performance over the week, learning and adjusting from setbacks, and capitalizing on huge races throughout the event. We all will remember that medal race for decades.”

Paine also looks forward to supporting future generations of Olympic sailors. “Getting to the Olympic starting line takes an army of people. Now, it’s my time to pay it forward and help others make their dreams a reality too.”

Tokyo Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Women’s Windsurfing – RS:X
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Original dates: July 24 to August 9, 2020
Revised dates: July 23 to August 8, 2021

Details: https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/schedule/olympic/