News

Australians Positive About Looming Laser Battle

Published Thu 02 Aug 2018

Video by Beau Outteridge

A world-class training environment and some strong international results have given Australia’s Laser squad confidence on the eve of the World Championships in Denmark.

Seven sailors will try to ensure Australia qualifies for a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by negotiating a mammoth 165-boat fleet at Aarhus when racing begins in the class on Friday.

Nothing in elite sport can be taken for granted, but form suggests the Michael Blackburn-coached Australian squad has ticked all the boxes.

Coach Michael Blackburn oversees training at Aarhus. PHOTO Beau Outteridge

“Hopefully we’ll have (qualification) covered quite easily…,” reigning Olympic champion Tom Burton said.

“In our squad, on any given day, we’ve probably got one of the fastest guys in the world. That’s pretty nice to go training with and it’s still hard to win races, even in our squad races.”

Mitch Kennedy, currently world No.26, said: “I think we’ve got one of the strongest groups we’ve had for some time. So I think that qualifying the nation shouldn’t be a problem. It’s just going to be us battling it out for those final spots on the podium. I think Australia’s going to be right up there.”

“We’ve been training a fair bit before this event, both here and back in Sydney and the rest of it, and we’ve been doing a fair bit with the Kiwi boys as well. So we’ve got a really strong group going on.”

Matt Wearn has had a great season so far. PHOTO Beau Outteridge

Matt Wearn, who won the European Laser Championship in May, said that the competition within the group provided a quality atmosphere for improvement.

“There’s always that healthy rivalry, being pushed in training as well as in the racing,” Wearn said.

“You’re sort of always looking for each other out on the water in some sense, if you’re in the same fleet, because you know they’re going to be up there.”

Finn Alexander is a former Youth World Champion. PHOTO Beau Outteridge

Finn Alexander, who joined the squad last year, said: “Training with Tom and Wearny and all the other boys, it provides a really high benchmark. And you know if you’re competing and beating those guys, you’re really up there with the rest of the world.”

Australia has won the gold medal at the past two Olympic Games and Burton was the silver medallist at the 2014 World Championships.

Australian Sailing Team/Squad Laser Sailors:

Tom Burton

Matt Wearn

Mitchell Kennedy

Luke Elliott

Finn Alexander