Townsville’s Breiana Whitehead has created her own piece of history as the first Kite Foil sailor to be selected for an Australian Olympic Team.
Kite Foil is a new Olympic class making its debut at Paris 2024 along with mixed 470s. Kite Foil sailors can reach speed in excess of 30 knots as they negotiate racing tactics, competitors lines and kites and the ocean in the newest Olympic class.
The 23-year-old Townsville athlete’s selection was announced by Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares in Sydney today.
“Every athlete selected on the Australian Olympic Team has an inspiring story. Breiana is no exception.
Meet Breiana
“She started sailing in Townsville as an eight year old, trying many classes over her time before settling on the new class of kite foil – and now she is going to represent her country in Paris at the Olympic Games.
“Congratulations to Breiana for this amazing achievement in an exciting time for the kite foil class which is making its first Olympic appearance in Paris.
“Breiana’s success is a tribute to those people who have supported her from a young age – her family, coaches and others who have played a part.
Breiana says it’s hard to comprehend her journey from young athlete to the Olympic Games.
“I’m really excited to know that I have been selected to represent Australia in Kitefoiling,” she said.
“I’m stoked that I’ll be racing in the debut of Kitefoiling in the Olympics and keen for the world to have a front row seat of our high adrenaline sport.“
“If you told the little girl from Townsville who was obsessed with sailing that she was going to the Olympics in 2024 I don’t think she would have believed you,” she concluded.
Sailing Australia President Alistair Murray said “Australian Sailing is incredibly proud of Breiana, and we can’t wait for the world to get a taste of what we have known for years – that Kite Foil racing is hugely exciting and that we have one of the very best athletes right here in Australia.”
“Australia has a rich history of success in Olympic sailing, and we look forward to seeing Brei and the rest of the team add to that in Paris next year,” he concluded.
Breiana won a quota place for the Paris 2024 Games after placing eleventh in the Sailing World Championships held in The Hague, the Netherlands in August this year.
