Facing challenges of Tokyo and beyond

Kiran Badloe from the Netherlands comes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the favorite in the Men’s Windsurfing event. Badloe has won the past three RS:X World Championships and will be looking to carry on from teammate and double Olympic gold medallist Dorian van Rijsselberghe.

In this interview, Badloe shares the challenges that face him for Tokyo and beyond:

How have your preparations been affected by the COVID delay?
The uncertainty of the Olympics happening a year later is difficult to deal with in order to plan your training sessions and intensities. But I think for us the most difficult thing is that we have new equipment for the games of 2024 and the guys that are going to Tokyo have a year less to prepare for that one. With new equipment this is going to be our biggest challenge.

Do you feel any pressure to follow Dorian’s success?
I do notice that people have high expectations of me, though it’s mostly people that don’t know the sailing sport that well. Everyone who is familiar with our sport, knows that anything can happen and that results of the past are no guarantee for the Games. All I can do is prepare as well as I can and deal with all the conditions and situations that we get given during the event. If I deal with it better than the others, I have a chance. But it’s also very possible that they deal with it better than I do.

What training have you done to prepare for Tokyo conditions?
We are not sure yet what conditions to expect in Tokyo during the Games. So I’ve tried to prepare in all the conditions as well as I can. I know that my high wind abilities are quite good, so I have tried to maintain them and also focus on some of the weaker areas of my sailing.

How has the Dutch Sailing Federation reacted to the changes in sport?
My Federation have been a fan of the change in the equipment for 2024. Although we have been dominant in the RS:X in the past, it’s a healthy change for the sport. It attracts more kids to windsurfing and has the possibility to grow the sport into a well-known sport worldwide.

Do you think the heat and humidity will be a medal winning influence?
I definitely think humidity will play a big role. Nowadays a big part of our repertoire is physical ability. There are going to be races that the guy that wins is the guy that can pump the most. The heat and humidity play a big factor in your physical state. If you are prepared for it and able to deal with it better than your competitors, you have a physical advantage assuming that we’re all equally as fit.

What is a happy outcome for you from Tokyo?
In order for me to look back at the Games and be happy I must sail “the week of my life”. I want to finish the event knowing I did not make any mistakes along the way. If I still made some mistakes and I managed to win, I’m also a very happy man.

But knowing I’ve made mistakes and collected points and because of that not reach a potential place, I would not be too happy with myself. Also, if I’ve done everything right, made no mistakes and I would finish 2nd, I have to accept that somebody is better. It would sting, but over time I would be able to be happy about that result.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Program
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
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/