New Mens 470 partnerhip quest for London Olympics

4:17 AM Fri 5 Dec 2008 GMT

'New 470 team, Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page' Australian Sailing Team

The Australian Sailing Team has a new Men's 470 sailing partnership, as Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medallist Malcolm Page links with Mathew Belcher on a new four-year quest for glory.

Page won gold in Qingdao in August with long time skipper Nathan Wilmot. However, after the Olympic Games, Wilmot decided to leave the 470 class in pursuit of new sailing challenges.

Page today announced Belcher as his new Australian men's 470 skipper. The pair have never competed together before but have set themselves some big goals, including victory at the first ISAF Grade One and World Cup Series event of 2009, Sail Melbourne, in December and the Australian 470 Championships scheduled for January in Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Belcher, who is already a member of the Australian Sailing Team, brings world class credentials to the new partnership. Ranked number one in the world in 2007, he and former 470 crewmate Nick Behrens placed second in the 2007 Rolex Miami OCR, third in the 470 North American Championships 2007, fifth at the 2007 ISAF World Championships and had a winning streak in 2006 when they took out the Sydney International Regatta, the 470 Australian Championships and Kiel Week in Germany. This year, Belcher placed third in the Moth World Championships.

Originally from Queensland, Belcher is a talented all-round sportsman. He achieved a black belt in taekwondo at age ten and has played ice hockey, baseball and State level hockey. He and brother Daniel won the 420 World Championships in 2000 and Mat was selected as one of eight junior champions to carry the Olympic flag from the stadium after it was lowered at the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Belcher is looking forward to chasing his Olympic dream with Page.

"It's a dream come true for me," said Belcher of the new partnership.

"After seven years competing against each other, we can now align our talent, motivation and successes to put Australia in the best possible position to achieve more gold in London."

Page said the new partnership was great motivation to get back on the water and into some serious training after a post-Olympic break.

"A new team brings new challenges and it reignites your passion," said Page.

"Nathan and I achieved everything we set out to and winning gold was the pinnacle of our success and a great moment to share after all the years of hard work.

"But sailing as a new team makes everything challenging again and Mat and I consider ourselves to be at the beginning of another four year campaign that will culminate with the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"It may seem a long way away, but we know how critical it is to start now.

Page is also working towards a history-making personal goal - to become the only Australian Olympic sailor to win gold at two Olympic Games.

"I've set my sights on becoming the first ever Australian to win two sailing Olympic gold medals and I want to do it in back-to-back Olympic Games," said Page.

"I thrive on big challenges and now Mat's seen gold up close he's really keen to get his own!"

Victor Kovalenko, the Australian Sailing Team coach who trained Wilmot and Page and Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson to Olympic gold, will continue in his role through to the London 2012 Olympic Games and has already begun working with Belcher and Page.

Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones said the new Men's 470 team was part of a strategic effort to maintain momentum in planning and development after the team's Olympic success this year.

"We're conscious of the need to stay focused and keep developing in the wake of the Olympic Games," said Jones.

"Our coaching team has already been working hard with junior development, we're finalising the team management restructure and our athletes are preparing for Sail Melbourne as the first event in the new World Cup Series.

"The new pairing of Mathew and Malcolm is a great addition to the Australian Sailing Team and we're confident their talent will combine well to maintain our dominance of the 470 class under Victor's guidance."

www.australiansailingteam.com.au

by Australian Sailing Team Media