#rio – Buoyed up by the success of Annalise Murphy's Olympic performance (fourth overall) in Weymouth in 2012 and her Laser European title win in 2013, the Irish Sports Council (ISC) announced an investment plan for Olympic sailing for 2014, a critical year in the build up to the Rio Olympics.
Sailing received the third highest level of funding after boxing and athletics. This state investment included the allocation of €7m to 18 high performance sports including sailing.
Results from other Irish sailors also helped sailing cash in on government funding. Last year sailors won 13 medals, 8 of which were Gold at international events. Youth sailors did particularly well. For example, Finn Lynch took bronze in the Men's Radial Worlds, silver in the Europeans and Gold in the U21 category at the Laser European and World Championships in Dun Laoghaire.
2014 is a key year in the Olympic cycle as the first Olympic qualifier will be held in Santander, Spain in September. The target for the Irish sailors is to qualify the nation in all classes that they participate in.
Commenting on the announcement ISA Performance Director James O'Callaghan stated "The level of funding received from the Irish Sports Council is a reflection of the success of our high performance athletes".
There are 102 sailors training as part of the ISA Performance Pathway Programme starting from the junior classes through to the Olympic classes. All these sailors are closely monitored and follow strength and conditioning programmes managed by Sports Med Ireland physiotherapist Mark McCabe in addition to receiving regular coaching from top international coaches.