Isaac McHardie and William Mckenzie will be competing in their first Olympic Games in Paris. Photo: Photosport
Sailors Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie will represent New Zealand at their first Olympics on the boat made famous by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
McHardie and McKenzie, along with seasoned Olympians Jo Aleh and Molly Meech, have been selected for the Paris Games in the 49er and 49erFX classes.
They join Tom Saunders (ILCA 7), Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson (Nacra 17), and Veerle ten Have and Josh Armit (windfoil), who were named last month.
McHardie and McKenzie will make their https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/496160/new-zealand-crew-books-olympic-berth-in-49ers-for-paris Olympic debut] in the 49er class (men's skiff), following Burling and Tuke's gold and two silver medals in the class at the last three Olympics.
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke on 24 July 2021. Photo: Photosport
With the veteran crew not campaigning this Olympic cycle, McHardie and McKenzie have established themselves as one of the leading 49er outfits in the world over the past 12 months.
Last year, they won bronze at the Princess Sofia Regatta and the European championships, either side of top-six finishes at the Olympic test event, the French Olympic Week regatta, and the Sailing World Championships.
They have been selected following a close-fought battle with training partners Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn, who were forced to abandon their campaign a few weeks ago after Dunning Beck suffered a serious injury only days before the final Olympic trial.
"Being selected for the Olympics is a dream come true and we are honoured to represent New Zealand on sailing's biggest stage," McHardie said.
"We would like to acknowledge the hard work of many people to get us here, including Logan and Oscar who pushed us all the way. We wish Logan a speedy recovery."
The pair are hoping to continue where Burling and Tuke left off in Tokyo when they line up in Marseille, where the Olympic sailing will be contested in July and August.
"We grew up watching Pete and Blair achieve incredible results in the class and we appreciate their willingness to share some of their experience and advice with us and other teams through the years," McKenzie said.
"They have left big shoes to fill but we are confident that, with the support of our amazing coaches and the rest of the New Zealand Olympic team, we can do them and the country proud in Marseille."
Jo Aleh and Molly Meech at the 49er FX Sailing World Championships 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Jo Aleh and Molly Meech competed at the 2023 Sailing World Championship in the Netherlands.
Between Aleh and Meech, they have competed at seven Olympics, but at Paris 2024, they will sail together in the 49erFX (Women's Skiff) for the first time at an Olympic Games.
Aleh is a double Olympic medallist - winning gold in the women's 470 class with Polly Powrie in London in 2012, and silver four years later in Rio. She teamed up with Meech in early 2022, after taking a five-year break from competitive sailing.
"Having started my Olympic journey in the Laser Radial (ILCA 6) back in Beijing, I'm happy to be sailing a faster boat each time and I am absolutely loving taking on the 49erFX with Molly and the challenge it brings," Aleh said.
"After watching from the coach boat in Tokyo [where she coached Wilkinson and Dawson], I am looking forward to being back on the racecourse and doing what I love."
Sailing at Paris 2024 is due to get under way in Marseille from 28 July to 8 August.