Rio 2016

Rio 2016 venue: Marina da Glória (Copacabana Zone)
Competition dates: Aug. 8-18
Medal events: 10 (5 men, 4 women, 1 mixed)
Olympic introduction: 1900 (Paris, France)

Preview
As the nation with the most Olympic medals in sailing, expectations are always high for the United States heading into an Olympic Games. Due to a combination of veteran athletes who retired and changes to Olympic equipment, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team will be younger and untested compared to previous teams. This has created a significant level of interest around the U.S. Sailing Team, and American sailing fans are waiting to see which athletes will perform to their potential in Rio.

With several podium and near-podium performances at the 2014 Sailing World Championships and the 2015 Olympic Test Event, two marquee events, there is much optimism for a strong American performance in Rio. American sailors have shown themselves to be consistent contenders in five Olympic classes and results at the Olympic venue in Rio have been particularly promising.

Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha won gold at the Olympic Test Event in August 2015 in the women’s 470 class, besting the defending gold- and silver-medal-winning teams from the London 2012 Games. In the men’s 470, the team of Stu McNay and David Hughes finished seventh at the test event, and won the 470 European Championship in 2015 – arguably the most competitive regatta of the year. Additionally, Laser Radial world champion and Olympian Paige Railey finished fourth at the 2015 test event, and second at the 2016 World Championship, missing a second career world title by a single point. Added to a gold-medal performance at the 2015 Pan Am Games, Railey is in top form heading into Rio 2016.

Two-time collegiate sailor of the year Charlie Buckingham earned gold at the 2014 North Americans, and finished seventh at both the 2014 World Championships, and 2015 test event in the one-person Laser class, showing he can compete with the best in this notably deep and competitive fleet. Additionally, Caleb Paine submitted a string of top results in the one-person Finn class, finishing seventh at the 2014 World Championships and winning bronze at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final. Paine bested Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey in the team selection series to earn a spot on Team USA for Rio 2016.

Following the London 2012 Olympics, US Sailing has relentlessly overhauled nearly every aspect of its performance program, both at the youth athlete development and national team levels. A noticeable aspect of the new program has been the return of many American Olympic-class sailing legends now lending their skills as coaches and technical experts. Two-time Olympic medalist Charlie McKee leads the group as high performance director and has succeeded in recruiting a coaching staff second to none in the world. This influx of experience and talent into the coaching staff has spurred the team to higher levels of performance, and brought the current generation of athletes into greater contact with the team’s celebrated history.

As the U.S. Sailing Team heads into the Rio 2016 Games, it will do so with the confidence of a well-coached squad that has amassed significant experience and success at the Olympic venue prior to the Games itself. This will be a crucial competitive factor as Team USA strives to reach the podium.

Athletes To Watch
Charlie Buckingham 
Two-time college sailor of the year Buckingham won college sailing’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy twice while at Georgetown University, earning a place among the best American college sailors in history. The Laser fleet is known as one of the toughest in Olympic sailing, featuring large fleets and little room for error. Buckingham has nevertheless established himself in just four years, earning gold at the 2014 North American Championships, seventh at the 2014 World Championships, and seventh at the 2015 Olympic test event.

Annie Haeger
With several podium finishes at elite-level ISAF Sailing World Cup events and major 470 championships since January 2013, Haeger and her partner, Briana Provancha, are considered medal contenders for Rio 2016. Their signature win to date came in August 2015 when the pair won gold at the Olympic test event, besting the defending gold and silver medal-winning teams from London 2012. Haeger was honored with US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in 2015, the nation’s highest sailing award.

Stu McNay 
Two-time Olympian McNay teamed with David Hughes in the men’s 470 class after the London 2012 Games and immediately began the hottest run of his sailing career. Top victories for the pair came at the 2015 470 European Championship in Aarhus, Denmark – an event considered equal in difficulty to the world championships – and the 2016 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami.

Caleb Paine
Paine has been the top U.S. Finn sailor since the London 2012 Games. Paine finished seventh at the 2014 World Championships and earned bronze at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final to go along with a lengthy collection of top-10 finishes at the sport’s highest level during that span. Paine’s dramatic Team USA selection series against Beijing 2008 silver medalist Zach Railey came down to the final race, with Paine prevailing and securing a ticket to Rio 2016.

Paige Railey
Railey has achieved almost everything possible in the Laser Radial class except for her ultimate goal – winning an Olympic medal. The London 2012 Olympian, 2005 world champion and 2015 Rolex ISAF World Sailor of the Year is in the prime of her career as she works to earn selection for the Rio 2016 Games. A third-place finish at the 2013 World Championship, a runner-up finish at the 2016 World Championships, gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and a fourth-place finish at the 2015 Rio Olympic Test Event has proven she remains a top-level medal threat.

Storylines

• Following the London 2012 Olympics, US Sailing overhauled its performance program, both at the youth athlete development and national team levels. A noticeable aspect of the new program has been the return of many American Olympic-class sailing legends now lending their skills as coaches and technical experts. Two-time Olympic medalist Charlie McKee leads the group as high performance director and has succeeded in recruiting a coaching staff second to none in the world. This influx of experience and talent into the coaching staff has spurred the team to higher levels of performance, and brought the current generation of athletes into greater contact with the team’s celebrated history.

• London 2012 Olympian Paige Railey has achieved everything possible in the laser radial class except for her ultimate goal – winning an Olympic medal. The youth and open world champion, and Rolex ISAF World Sailor of the Year is in the prime of her career A third-place finish at the 2013 World Championship, a runner-up finish at the 2016 World Championships, gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and a fourth-place finish at the 2015 Rio Olympic Test Event has proven she remains a top-level medal threat.

• Stuart McNay, who will be making his third Olympic appearance in Rio, teamed with David Hughes in the men’s 470 class after the 2012 Olympic Games and immediately began the hottest run of his sailing career, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at the 2013 World Championships and multiple top-10 finishes at major events in 2013 and 2014.

• With several podium finishes at elite-level ISAF Sailing World Cup events and major 470 championships since January 2013, Haeger and her partner, Briana Provancha, are considered medal contenders for Rio 2016. Their signature win to date came in August 2015 when the pair won gold at the Olympic test event, besting the defending gold and silver medal-winning teams from London 2012. Haeger was honored with US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year in 2015, the nation’s highest sailing award.