Updated selection procedure for 2020 US Olympic Sailing Team

Bristol, RI (June 23, 2020) – As a result of the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, US Sailing has updated the Athlete Selection Procedures for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team in accordance with Guiding Principles from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The revisions focus on the three classes, 470 Men, 470 Women, and Finns. Each class had its third selection event, the 2020 World Championships, postponed in the spring due to COVID-19.

These revised procedures officially conclude the Men’s 470 Trials based on the results of the first two selection events. The next opportunities for the Finn and Women’s 470 classes to conclude their Trials are the 2020 World Championships, if the events are held this October.

The classes have tentatively proposed the new dates of October 2-10 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and are expected to make a final call on the 2020 World Championships in early July. The revised procedures address contingency plans for the 470 Women if the 2020 Worlds are canceled or if travel to Spain is not in the athletes’ best interest.

“It is always the committee’s priority to determine a fair selection system for the athletes and one that will give the winning team in each class the best chance of success at the Games,” said US Sailing’s Selection Committee Chair, JJ Fetter (San Diego, CA).

As part of the revision process, athletes in the affected classes were also invited by the committee to review the draft procedures and provide feedback. The committee considered all athlete input prior to submitting recommended revisions to the Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) and then to the USOPC for final approvals.

“We’re grateful for the dedication this committee has shown in the past several months,” said Jack Gierhart (Marion, Mass.), CEO of US Sailing. “Adapting to the changes caused by the pandemic has been challenging, but this committee realized the utmost importance of revising these procedures diligently and with great care.”

The updated procedures have been approved by the USOPC and can be found here.

View US Sailing’s Olympic Trials Tracker.

US Sailing Selection Committee members:
JJ Fetter, Chairman of Selection Committee, Vice-Chair Olympic Sailing Committee, Olympian, athlete
Sally Barkow, Olympian, Coach, athlete
Joe Morris, Olympian, USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council Representative for Sailing, athlete
Thomas Barrows, Olympian, Coach, athlete*
Mark Reynolds, most decorated U.S. Olympian in Sailing, athlete
Dave Perry, US Sailing Board Member, US Sailing Team Rules Advisor
Luther Carpenter, Head Coach
Meredith Brody, Olympic Director*
Briana Provancha, Olympian, US Sailing Board Member, athlete
Leandro Spina, Coach, Olympic Development Director
*Meredith Brody and Thomas Barrows recused themselves from voting on the Finn and Men’s 470 classes, respectively.

About the US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US Sailing names the top Olympic class athletes to the team annually, through both event qualification and at the discretion of team leadership. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. US Sailing Team sponsors include partners Kilroy Realty, Helly Hansen, Harken, McLube, Nimbix, Siemens, and Marlow Ropes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and advancement for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

Source: Brittney Manning, US Sailing Team Press Officer