Martine Grael: All in the family

From the Williams sisters to the Brownlee brothers, plenty of talented families have graced the Olympic Games. And if there is one athlete who has seen success in the prestigious sporting event shared out across generations, it’s Brazilian sailor Martine Grael.

A two-time Olympic champion in sailing’s 49er FX category, Grael is the latest in a long line of sporting talent.

Martine’s dad, Torben, is a five-time Olympic Games medalist, which includes gold at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000, while uncle Lars and brother Marco have both represented Brazil in a combined six Olympic campaigns. But Grael’s latest achievement is one, which will set her apart from her hugely talented family.

This weekend, the 33-year-old will become the first ever female driver in SailGP, the fast-paced f50 catamaran racing championship billed as sailing’s answer to Formula One. What’s more, she will do so as part of the newly formed Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, which is making its debut in the recently expanded 12-team competition.

Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Grael revealed that she jumped at the chance to star in the unprecedented feat, having first been made aware of the possibility by Brazil’s team CEO Alan Adler in June.

SailGP showcases a different side of sailing to the events seen on the Olympic stage, with the f50 boats appearing to almost fly across the water at speeds close to 60 miles-per-hour. And with year-long event also boasting household names in the sport, including five-time Games medalist Sir Ben Ainslie, Grael admitted it is the ultimate competition for sailors.

She said, “Of course, as sailors, we follow all the big circuits in sailing. I’m very passionate about it. SailGP I think, is the coolest circuit racing wise, because the racing is very tactical and very engaging. I think it’s the best circuit that a sailor would want to be on.” – Full story