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Olympic Preview - Single-handed Dinghy Men - Finn

Mateusz KUSNIEREWICZ (POL) has a point to prove in Athens. After winning Olympic Gold in Savannah in 1996, he was shunted out of the medals into fourth in Sydney and will be looking to bounce back this time around.

The 29-year old Polish athlete from Warsaw, who started sailing an Optimist at the ripe old age of 10 has had a string of successes over the years and recently returned to pretty awesome form in order to peak when it matters in Athens. 

This year he won the ISAF Grade 1 SPA Regatta as well as the European Championship in La Rochelle. Kusnierewicz has over the last couple of years been living in the shadow of three time World Champion Ben AINSLIE (GBR), but with recent form now leads the ISAF World Sailing Rankings and must rate as one of the strongest medal contenders in a competitive fleet in Athens. 

The Finn fleet, as well as being full of veteran campaigners who will be looking to push their ability to the limits in the difficult Athens conditions, includes a number of athletes making their Olympic debut in Athens. Of the strong fleet of 25, nine athletes have never before competed in an Olympic Sailing Competition. 

First time contenders include the familiar face of Americas’ Cup skipper Dean BARKER. Following time out from the Team New Zealand syndicate, in which Ben AINSLIE will be joining him shortly after the Olympic Games, Barker returned to his dinghy sailing roots and successfully won the right to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games. 

The fleet certainly has its share of champions around the different facets of the world of sailing. No fewer than six athletes have represented their country’s at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships over the years, and two of those, Ben AINSLIE and Dean BARKER, have both won Gold medals at the event. Other representatives include Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTIANSEN (DEN), Mateusz KUSNIEREWICZ (POL), Richard CLARKE (CAN), Kevin HALL (USA), and Alejandro COLLA (ARG).

Kevin HALL is a prime example of the depth of talent in the fleet.  Having won the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship in 1986, he continued his efforts and Olympic aspirations.  A first campaign in the Finn Class for the 1992 Olympics did not result in selection but was the start of his Olympic path.  It was then onto the Laser Class for 1996, but he again missed US selection, before swapping classes to the 49er.  Having won the bronze medal three times at the 49er World Championships (’99, ’98, ’97), Kevin and helm Morgan LARSON seemed to be onto a sure thing, but with the “do or die” single event trials, despite a top performance throughout their Olympic campaign the pair missed out for the 2000 Olympic Games.  After a stint of America’s Cup sailing, Kevin returned to the Finn last year, and earlier this year won the US Trials with a race to spare.  His first Olympics, his fourth Olympic campaign - and a phenomenal pool of talent and experience from which he will draw when he gets to the start line in Athens. 

Since his migration from the Single-handed Dinghy Open after winning the Gold Medal in Sydney, Great Britain’s Ben AINSLIE jumped into the shoes of long time friend and team mate Iain PERCY, who has himself moved into the Star Class. With much to live up to, but with the legacy of Percy’s campaign giving him an initial boost, Ainslie took the class by storm and has won the last three World Championships on the trot. This feat immediately puts him somewhere near legendary status, but proof will be in his ability to cope with the renewed pressure of another Olympic Sailing Competition, an event unlike any other. 

Rafael TRUJILLO (ESP) will be making his debut in Athens next month and following his third placed finish at the ISAF World Championships in Cadiz in 2003, he has looked strong and consistently fast. A victory at Kiel Week this year and a third place in Hyeres has confirmed his position as one of the world’s best and he’ll be fighting the top two of Kusnierewicz and Ainslie all the way. 

Local hero Emilios PAPATHANISIOU (GRE) will be sailing on his home waters in the Saronic Gulf and for that reason he is considered a real chance for a medal. After an indifferent 2003 season, he has settled into a pattern this year and in winning the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Francaise and finishing fifth at Kiel Week has shown that Greece has a good shot at medal. Papathanisiou currently lies 18 in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings but with the home support things could well go his way. 

Croatian Sailor Karlo KURET will be at his fourth Olympic Games when he arrives in Athens – the only sailor in the fleet to hold this accolade. The 34-year old athlete from Split on the Adriatic Coast, has improved in every Olympics.  In his first, Barcelona in 2002 , he finished 22, before a good tenth place finish at Sydney in 2000. A regular within the top ten over the last 12 months, he will be looking for a solid performance in Athens. 

2001 World Champion Sebastien GODEFROID has seemed a little off the pace in recent months. After the silver medal he won behind Kusnierewicz in 1996, he could only finish seventh in 2000. A disappointing result by his own standards, a 17 at the 2004 World Championship in Rio, Brazil earlier this year, has pummelled him to pick up his game. With performances that go in peaks and troughs, Godefroid looks to be on the way up and the potential for inconsistent conditions in Athens could well be to his liking.