New Zealand’s 2012 Olympic gold medal winning sailing pair have announced that they will campaign again with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in their sights.
Gold medallists in the Women’s 470, Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie declared their intention to get back in the boat and do it all again at a sponsor function hosted by Apollo Projects in Christchurch last Thursday.
With a flurry of engagements, public appearances, club visits and Awards ceremonies since standing on the podium in Weymouth, Aleh and Powrie have taken their time to consider what comes next.
Olympic Programme Director at Yachting New Zealand is understandably delighted that both Aleh and Powrie will be part of the NZL Sailing Team in this next cycle.
"It is great news - not just for our next Olympic campaign - but also for yachting in New Zealand," says Fanstone. "At 26 and 24 years old, Jo and Olivia are young sailors with obvious potential to represent New Zealand with more success in future."
He continues; "Sailors who make the NZL Sailing Team, such as our recent medallists, are all super talented and hugely committed. Over the coming four years we’ll target key regattas including Oceanbridge Sail Auckland here in New Zealand and the internationals such as ISAF Sailing World Cup events and World Championships to put us back in medal winning form for Rio."
"Their success makes us all proud, and with their faces in the spotlight there’ll be plenty more junior sailors out there wanting to be ‘just like Jo and Polly’. And they are our future champions."
Getting in behind Team Jolly’s next campaign, Apollo Projects Group CEO Paul Lloyd has this to say, "Becoming part of the Team Jolly crew has been a real thrill for our company and all our team."
"Apollo has also introduced and secured four other financial sponsors, a vehicle sponsor and a boat sponsor for Team Jolly. The new level of support now obtained will ensure all decisions can be made based on what is needed to stay at the top and not what they can afford."
Regattas in 2013 featuring the 470 class include…
2-5 February 2013
Oceanbridge Sail Auckland Regatta
Royal Akarana Yacht Club, AUCKLAND
30 March-6 April
ISAF Sailing World Cup/Palma
Palma, SPAIN
20-27 April, 2013
ISAF Sailing World Cup / Hyeres
Hyeres, FRANCE
5-August 2013
470 Men's & Women's World Championships
La Rochelle, FRANCE
