Reigning Olympic sailing champ Matt Wearn and debutant Grae Morris officially off to Paris

Defending Olympic champion Matt Wearn has overcome the effects of long-covid and plans to attack another gold in Paris after his selection for the Games joining first-timer Grae Morris as the latest additions to the Australian team.

Wearn, the Tokyo gold medallist who took 18 months to regain his fitness , said the challenges of the past few years made his selection, which was confided on Friday in Perth, even more special.

“2022 was tough. In a year where I was looking forward to taking the momentum of the Games through to this campaign it was all taken away by a series of illnesses which ended my season,” the 28-year-old said.

“I really had to fight hard for a long time to get back to where I was pre illness. It took well in to the 2023 season for me to get back to the health and fitness level I needed to be at the top of the fleet again but with some amazing help I managed just that.

“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.

“There are only a handful of sailors that have gone to multiple Games and been successful, so I am really hoping I can add to that legacy again in Paris”

Morris, who is only 20, showed his world class ability finishing fourth in February’s iQFOiL World Championships in Lanzarote and he’ll contest the new event in Paris.

The iQFOiL is a much faster form of windsurfing, with athletes reaching top speeds of more than 60km/h.

“It was a childhood dream to go to the Olympic Games, to see it finally coming together is amazing!” Morris said.

“Finishing fourth in our last Worlds in the lead up to the Olympics shows we are heading in the right direction. It’s all experience that I need to do my best when the time comes.”

“The iQFOiL is fast in all conditions and exciting to watch. It’s a pure adrenaline rush and I think everyone is going to love it!”

Morris and Wearn join Breiana Whitehead, who was selected in late 2023, on the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with further sailing selections expected in the coming months.