The Tokyo Summer Olympics were an outstanding display of athletic achievement by contenders from around the world, performing against the backdrop of daily global politics. Arizona had 18-athletes competing, and it was exciting watching locals Jade Carey and MyKayla Skinner win medals in gymnastics. In the final days, the US narrowly pulled ahead of China, eking out just 1-more medal to claim the most gold of any nation, and handily claimed the most medals overall.
But what about sailing? In a sport once dominated by the US, our team left Tokyo empty handed. And, in the last three Olympiads going back almost 10-years, the US won just one medal – a bronze. US Sailing’s best finishes in Tokyo were 9th place (Stuart McNay (470-men), Riley Gibbs (NACRA 17-mixed), and Pedro Pascual (RS:X-men)). For a fascinating perspective on Tokyo and the road ahead for the US team, read this Open Letter from Paul Cayard, Executive Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing: Open Letter.
Many thanks to Staff Commodore Rob Gibbs for sharing this article.