Motivated to do what hasn’t been done before

Among the Olympic Sailing events, success for the USA in the Men’s One Person Dinghy (ILCA 7) has been elusive. Since its introduction at Atlanta 1996, no one has gotten a sniff of the podium. David Coates would like to change that.

Coates parlayed his win at the 2025 US Sailing Youth Championship by standing on the top step at the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships, becoming the first American to win the ILCA 6 event in 23 years.

The American, who also goes by the nickname Mateo, won gold in varied conditions to finish 15 points clear at the summit. It marks the best achievement of his fledgling career to date for the Miami native.

“I really wanted to prove America has a place on the podium, especially in ILCA 6. To show we have a place here is such a great feeling.”

Coates, whose mother is Argentinian, credits coaches Arthur Blodgett, Simone Ricci, Andrew Lewis, and Erik Bowers as key to developing both his sailing and his mindset, while a home Olympics in 2028 is acting as a huge incentive for Coates and his USA teammates.

“The Olympics coming to LA is so exciting and I have goals of trying to make it,” he said. “It is such a huge motivation for all of us but especially the ILCA class as the USA has never won a medal in the ILCA 7 class.

“That’s no shade on anyone, all the athletes work super hard and I see how hard they work, but my goal is to put a medal for America at some point in the ILCA as it has never been done before. It is a great motivator.”

Source: World Sailing

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

For more details, click here.