Confidence Boost for Wearn After Successful Olympic Test Event

Matt Wearn says he has what it takes to be successful in Tokyo 2020 after continuing his stellar 2018 form with a silver medal at the Olympic Test Event in Enoshima.

With Japan gearing up for hosting duties of the 2020 Olympic Games, the Enoshima course which will serve as the location for all Sailing events provided WA’s best with an advance opportunity to test their wares.

Having medalled at the recent World Championships in Denmark, Wearn was once again occupying a podium position, this time taking second place in the laser fleet behind Great Britain’s Elliot Hanson.

The result serves as another confidence boost for the soon to be 24 year-old, with Wearn demonstrating solid racing across tough conditions that saw world champion Pavlos Kontides finish 14th, whilst his compatriot and reigning Olympic champion Tom Burton finished further back in 20th.

After a difficult start to the week, Wearn said he was happy to finish strongly in the medal race and gather experience on the Olympic course.

“I think I’m more excited about sailing a race rather well, it’s been a bit of a struggle this week,” Wearn said of his campaign after the medal race. “To finish off with a second in the medal race to clinch second overall – you can’t complain about that.”

“Olympic Test Event on Olympic waters – I know it’s not exactly the right time of year – but it feels good to get a medal. I kind of proved to myself and everyone else that I’ve got what it takes come 2020.”

Fellow West Australian Luke Elliott sailed a strong campaign, finishing one place shy of the medal round in 11th overall.

In the women’s 470, WA athletes Nia Jerwood and Monique de Vries claimed 14th place, whilst in the men’s, Chris Charlwood and Josh Dawson were 21st.

Brothers David and Lachy Gilmour combined for 19th place in the 49er ranks, whilst in the laser radial, Elyse Ainsworth (32nd) and Zoe Thomson (33rd) were both in action as well.