We are finally done with the 2012 Olympic Trials and I have qualified to represent the USA at the 2012 Olympic Games. I was also able to secure the country qualification so the USA is officially qualified to compete for the 2012 Olympic Games. To add to the excitement Paige was also able to secure both the Olympic selection for the USA and country qualifier. We are both so excited to live a life long dream of going to the Olympic Games together.
The World Championship was a very hard event and I certainly did not make things easy on myself. I picked up a BFD disqualification in the 3rd race of the event and from that point on had to sail a much more conservative event then I would have liked given the choice. I immediately had to stop taking any risk on the start line as another BFD penalty would have put my chances of qualification at risk. Overall, I finished in 9th position which was below our goal for the event, but the first and most important goal was Olympic Qualification which we achieved.
Overall, we are very happy with the progress that we made from the Test Event Regatta in August and are looking forward to making more progress this winter. I will now head home and we have already planned out the entire next year and will start training in the gym just after Christmas and will be back on the water shortly after that training and preparing for the ISAF World Cup Event in Miami, FL at the end of January.
This past event was a huge relief to have qualification finished and now our sole focus can be on getting ready for the Olympic Games next year. There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with making the Olympic Team and representing the USA and I look forward to living up to that challenge to the best of my ability.
Thank you everyone that has been a part of this success. I am looking forward to sharing next year with you and our trip to the 2012 Olympic Games.
223 days and counting!!
Zach
