Benoni sailor is first to book Olympic spot
Benoni sailor Stefano Marcia has all but secured his spot on Team SA, for next year’s Olympic Games, in Rio.
Sailing in the Laser Class at the World Championships, currently taking place in Kingston, Canada, Marcia safely negotiated his way to 39th spot – and into the gold fleet for the final races, meaning he has met the qualification standards for the Rio Games.
While final selection is ultimately in the hands of Sascoc, Marcia has done all he can to secure selection for next year’s games.
“I’ve done it!
“Rio Olympics it is for me!” was Marcia’s elated response on his Facebook page.
“Thank you to my sponsor Amtec Racing and Mike Hayton who believed in my dream as much as I do.
“I sailed the best I possibly could have today and moved up from 60th to 39th.
“These were the hardest three races of my life.
“It was a constant battle working my way from 106th to my current position of 39th.
“It was all about making it or breaking it and the wise words from my coach were: ‘Relax and breath’.
“There’s no better feeling in the world when things come together.”
That they certainly did, and while the competition continues in Canada, Marcia can relax just a little bit, knowing that qualification is in the bag.
South African Sailing chairman Peter Hall was delighted with Marcia’s result and the country’s first 2016 Rio Yachting Olympic qualification.
“A huge congratulations goes out to Stefano and a big thanks to Mike Hayton and Amtec Racing for backing him,” he said.
“We look forward to the 470 team reaching the same success at their qualifiers in October,” he added, of the team of Roger Hudson and Asenathi Jim, who are also chasing Olympic qualification, having been the only team to represent South Africa at the London Games in 2012.
