Gold rush

What was the hardest part about the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games?

2020 was difficult. We spent January in Miami, then in February in Sydney training, then in March to Spain for the 470 World Championship, which was cancelled as the pandemic took hold. We came back home and spent about six weeks working out what was happening.

It was mostly the psychology, of not knowing how it was going to unfold. We couldn’t travel to compete. The Europeans, while they were in lockdown too, were still able to compete and train.

So, we regrouped. We focused on achieving a balance and blocking out the disappointment and uncertainty.

Will and I were lucky because Iain Murray joined us in an active coaching role and we got back into training. For six months we alternated a week in Coffs, then a week on the Gold Coast. Iain must have driven 40,000 kms during that time! He worked with us until late November when he went over to Auckland for his America’s Cup duties.

Iain brought a lot of America’s Cup expertise to our training, to balance our program and push it forward.

Did you consider not competing because of the pandemic?

We did consider it. It was hard to keep our momentum. We’re usually traveling and competing about 70 percent of the year and here we were, at home, training but with no competition.

It’s hard to reference in our sport. You can’t run down a track and compare your times with international competitors. As much as you think you’re on track, you have no idea.

We did some racing in April-May 2020 and finished fourth, which was a wake-up call. The key thing was that so much time together really made our relationship very strong. Will and I really bonded.

We ended up training with other Aussie sailors across the Finn and Laser classes, including Michael Blackburn. There were a few five-day camps and we were all there together. It was a great opportunity to bond and support each other as we were all going through the same challenges.

It was hard with the constant media storm casting doubt that the Games would even go ahead in 2021. Those kinds of worries really sapped our energy.

But Will and I regrouped. We restructured our program. We had to just believe it was possible. Tokyo would be my third Olympic Games. We came second in Rio and our aim was to get that Gold. We had to focus on all the energy, money, time and sacrifice we’d devoted to that aim. Once we got over March-April 2020, we were full steam ahead.

Was it any different for you in terms of absence of spectators during competition and in the Opening/Closing Ceremonies?

To be honest, in sailing you don’t notice spectators. There were a lot of volunteers and they did a great job supporting athletes and adding to the atmosphere.

It would have been great to have Rike [Friederike Belcher who competed in the 470W at the London Games] and the kids there, especially now they’re older and can understand so much more.

Carrying the Australian flag in the Closing Ceremony was a massive honour. It was humbling and an amazing moment. I didn’t even notice there were no spectators. It was just such a relief to have competed, won Gold. It was the last day and so liberating after weeks of strict protocols, daily Covid tests, mask on for 10 hours a day.

What defines competing at Olympic level compared to other championships and world title events?

I love sailing. I’ve never been about being a pro-sailor. I’ve been selective about who I sail with and the Olympics is that pinnacle in our sport, in every sport.

Were you able to keep in touch with your family during the Games?

We spoke every day, a few times a day. Anton is nearly eight and he understood why I was away and what I was doing. The girls are a little younger. Zoe and Amelie thought I lived in the TV! Now I’m home and we’re celebrating with all the ‘welcome home’ events, they’re starting to understand.

The Gold medal is actually in my sock drawer. I’ll take it out and lend it to Southport Yacht Club to display at the Main Beach Clubhouse.

How do you recover after an Olympic win? Do you crash out, or do you have a wind down ritual?

Two weeks’ quarantine helped! I was super-keen to get out, but it was an important time to catch up on emails, business, media interviews. Some supporters sent me a massive T-bone steak, salad, wine, cheese, which was really awesome. I’m surprised I didn’t put on weight!

But normally, I have my post-race rituals like checking over the boat, all the systems, going over the next day’s plans to really get my head into the next task. I do my own warm down; some cardio, physio every day.

During 2020, we had a lot of time at home, a lot of time to think. I learned how to make the best use of that time. During the Games, when we had two days between races, a lot of teams didn’t know how to adapt to that.

We did. I think it had a lot to do with Australia’s Covid response, so we were used to having time and using it wisely.

What is your impression of the sailing talent coming through the ranks?

It will be interesting to see the talent coming through, especially with all the changes to the classes. Sailing Australia has its “Futures” program and there are seven 470s in the mixed, so that has really opened up opportunities for female sailors.

What does Australia’s most successful sailor in history have planned for the rest of 2021?

Nothing at this stage. Now that the Olympic chapter is closing, I just want to be home instead of travelling and competing.

The rest of this year is just about settling back into family life. We’ve got the Queensland Youth Week in Yeppoon and we’re going up there as a family. We’re keen to go camping, caravanning, a farm stay. We have a Laser Pico in the front yard ready to go. Anton is in the Tackers program at Southport Yacht Club – the same course I went through. He does karate, piano – it’s very busy! I just want to be around for them.

Do you have anything left on your career ‘bucket list’ to achieve?

I did some Etchells sailing with Martin Hill and Julian Plante and Will has joined us on a few occasions. It will be interesting to see where that leads. Also, I’ve always wanted to do a Sydney-Hobart, so all going well, I’ve signed up with Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban for this year’s race. I know nothing about ocean racing, so I’ll be relying on them to show me the ropes. I’m really looking forward to that new challenge.

Mat Belcher is special guest at a “Gold Medal Party”, Wednesday 2 September at Southport Yacht Club, which he is looking forward to attending with his mum and dad, Rike and son, Anton.

southportyachtclub.com.au