Marion Lepert has earned her first trip to an Olympic Games, qualifying to represent the United States in the women’s RS:X class at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. She nabbed her spot during competition at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia on Friday in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The women’s RS:X was the closest qualification battle entering the Palma regatta, with only two places separating 2012 Olympian Farrah Hall and Lepert. Taking a conservative approach, the 20-year-old Lepert used a strong showing to come back from two places down and edge out Hall to earn her first trip to the Olympic Games.
Winner of the bronze medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, she is native of La Tronche, France, who currently lives in Belmont, California. She is studying mechanical engineering at Stanford University.
Entering Saturday’s final day of competition, Lepert was in 10th place, 14 spots ahead of Hall, who had to finish within two places of Lepert to claim the Olympic berth.
Sailors who already have earned the spots in Rio are: Thomas Barrows and Joe Morris in the 49er class; Paris Henken and Helena Scutt in the 49erFX; Bora Gulari and Louisa Chafee in Nacra 17; 2012 Olympian Paige Railey in Laser Radial; Caleb Paine in Finn; and Charlie Buckingham in Laser. The United States will field a full team in Rio as it has qualified to compete in all 10 Olympic classes, as well as the three Paralympic classes.
