Could Outteridge be ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year?

4:04 AM Wed 14 Oct 2009 GMT

'Nathan Outteridge and crew Iain Jensen (AUS)' onEdition &copy

The Australian Sailing Team's Nathan Outteridge has been nominated for the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year. The dual 49er World Champion is up against the World's top sailors for the award which will be announced in Busan, Korea, on 10 November, 2009.

Outteridge has had an incredible 12 months, winning all three 49er regattas he has competed in with new crew Iain Jensen, including the 49er World Championship and two ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas, finishing second at both the 29er World Championship and Moth World Championship and sailing as tactician in the Farr 40 World Championship.

'I think being able to win the 49er Worlds back to back with a new crew has to be the major highlight of the year for me,' said Outteridge. 'After just missing out on a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games I feel winning the world titles on either side of the Olympics says something about how close we really came in China.'

'The new partnership between Iain Jensen and I has been very successful. To win our first three regattas together has been a great achievement. I could not have hoped for a better start to our campaign towards the 2012 London Olympic Games,' he said.

Nathan's talent was obvious as a youth sailor, winning Gold medals at three consecutive ISAF World Youth Sailing World Championships in two different classes, 420s and 29ers, with two different crews.

Nathan was always destined to mount an Olympic campaign but a serious car accident in 2005, which saw him hospitalised with fractured vertebrate, looked as if it might have ended the dream of a berth in China. However, demonstrating the tenacity and commitment which has typified this young sailors' career, he was back on the water just nine months later, after a major surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

To be a finalist in the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year is a great achievement for Outteridge with his competition for the title including Pascal Bid?gorry, Michel Desjoyeaux, Paul Goodison and Torben Grael.

'I'm honoured to be included in such a high calibre list of sailors,' said Outteridge. 'I had a look through all the people who have won this award in the past. Many have won multiple World Championships and Olympic medals. I am humbled to think that I could be considered in the same category as these legends of the sport.'

'Winning this award would be a huge honour, not just because of the prestige of the award but to be able to win it at such a young age. I feel I still have a lot to achieve in this sport in order to compare myself with some of the greats like Ben Ainslie and Russell Coutts,' he said.

Outteridge would be the first Australian to be named the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, adding extra weight to the award for the 23 year old.

'I would love to be the first Australian to win this award,' he said 'There have been many great Australian sailors nominated over the years. To be the first person to win it would mean a lot to me.'

'It's hard for an Australian to compete in this sport and gain recognition as much of the activity is in Europe. Not only is it expensive to compete but it also means a lot of time away from home. I have had a great year and finished on the podium in 3 International Class World Championships. Hopefully that puts me in good stead against the other nominees,' said Outteridge.

by Craig Heydon

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Could Outteridge be ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year?

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