Matt Wearn becomes the first Western Australian to be selected into the Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Team
In what was a special day, Matt Wearn has been announced as the first Western Australian to be selected into the Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Team.
Wearn will enter Paris as the reigning Olympic and World Champion, after taking home back-to-back world titles earlier this year in Adelaide, in the ILCA-7 World Championships.
In Paris, Matt will look to continue Australia’s rich ILCA 7 Olympic heritage (formerly Laser), with Australians winning Olympic gold in Tokyo (Wearn), Rio (Tom Burton) and London (Tom Slingsby).
Australian Chef de Mission for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares said ‘Matt has shown incredible resilience, it’s inspiring to see him climb back to the top of the fleet after illness… It takes a village to raise an Olympian, and I extend my congratulations to the athletes’ coaches, families, Australian Sailing, Australian and state institutes of sport and all who have helped them on their journey to the Olympic Games.’
Wearn has long been regarded as one of Australia’s top sailing talents, but has faced added adversity over the past few years. With long-covid taking its toll on the 28 year old, he said ‘it taught me a lot about myself, and it definitely has had some positive impacts on my training and racing programs. To get two World Championships and to be selected for my second Games after all that I went through feels incredible. The emotion is definitely higher and it means more to be here now, I am so grateful to have this opportunity again’ Wearn said.
Joining Wearn on the Australian sailing team is debutant Grae Morris, adding to the excitement surrounding the squads prospects for success in Paris. The duo join Breiana Whitehead, who was selected in late 2023, with future sailing selections expected in the coming months.
As the countdown to the Paris 2024 games continues, the anticipation and excitement grows, and we look forward to following along with further updates.
Quotes and images courtesy of the Australian Olympic Committee