Sailor in the Spotlight

Qingdao, China - Over the last two weeks, the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games have been under way, and in the waters of Qingdao, the Paralympic sailors took to their boats and sailed like the world-class athletes they are.  Like any other Olympian, these competitors have trained and sacrificed and made their way to this competition through blood, sweat, sheer will and the help of family, friends and supporters.  Though they may face a few more challenges than others, their ability to overcome them is both the mark of a true champion, and to these folks, just part of the game.

Years ago, an unhappy and out of shape Roz Savage was working in an office in the UK, wondering what she was doing with her life.  She decided she needed to make a change.  So, she sat down at her desk and wrote up her own obituary - actually two, in fact.  The first was the obituary for the life she was leading then, the second for the life she wanted to live - a life that was worth living.  In that moment, Roz Savage decided to step out of the realm of the average office worker, and into a life of adventure.

As a US Marine serving in the first Gulf War, Marcus Eriksen stood in the middle of the burning oil fields, covered with soot and burnt crude, and was struck with the senselessness of it all. From that point, he decided that something needed to be done to bring attention to the ongoing issues of environmental destruction. He realized that if he could make saving the environment an adventure, if he could make it cool, then the much needed press coverage would follow. He reinvented himself - leaving behind the life of a Marine Commando to become a commando warrior on a different front.

Tom Slingsby is both the Laser World Champion, and the top ISAF rated Laser sailor in the world - two distinct measures by which to say that he is the very best. In just a few hours, Tom will be sailing for Australia in the 2008 Olympics - his first Olympics - and clearly his own standard for excellence is the gold medal. All of his training, all of his other accomplishments, all of his sacrifices for the last eight years are about to be put to to the test in this ultimate world championship, and nobody is expecting more of Tom Slingsby than Tom himself.

Qingdao, China - The greatest amateur sailors in the world are gathering to compete in the 2008 Olympics this week. These are the best of the best, the people whose dedication to sailing is similar to others' dedication to eating and breathing. The training, the devotion, the sacrifices, the out before dawn and in after dusk schedules are about to pay off.

In a few weeks, a second group of world-class athletes will take to the Olympic venues in Beijing, and the water at Qingdao, to compete in the 2008 Paralymic games.  Only accepted as a Paralympic medal sport since the 2000 games, sailing has bounded onto the scene with a record total of 80 competitors sailing for 25 countries this year.  The rest of the world is learning what we all know:  These folks can out-sail most 'Able Hands' any day!