Laser World December 2008 GOLDGOLD FORFOR TUNNICLIFFETUNNICLIFFE && GOODISONGOODISON Getty Images LaserLaser 4.74.7 World’sWorld’s 400400 SailorsSailors && 40+40+ CountriesCountries NEW Brake © ILCA Paul Goodison and the Laser Radial Medal Winners © Mainsheet& Centreboard Blocks COPYRIGHT AND LIABILITY No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. The articles and opinions in LaserWorld may not represent the official views of ILCA. The publishers do not accept any liability for their accuracy. 2 LaserWorld December 2008 2008 Beijing Olympic Games do to try to make sure that didn’t happen Your battle with Rasmus Myrgren in the again in China. For me the whole 4 years medal race was exciting for us all to was about trying to become the best sailor watch. If you had been in his position, Paul I could be in the conditions expected in trying to protect the silver medal, would China. My whole training was changed you have done things differently? to peak in those conditions, in the end Yes, for sure. My plan was just to sail a Goodison... I lost nearly 10kg in weight specifically normal race but two minutes from the start for the Olympics. Each year we went to China I tried to lose a little bit of weight I looked at the course and it all seemed Congratulations on winning Olympic for the Pre-Olympic regattas. I think just to be falling apart. The conditions meant Gold in Qingdao after your 4th place in spending lots of time there and getting that anything could have been possible. Athens. What do you think was the key comfortable in the surroundings helped. So I decided to engage and unfortunately to your success this time? for Rasmus he ended up getting a little bit Do you think the tactics that worked too far away from the line. I think if I had I think really this time it was about focusing so well for you in Qingdao can now be been in his situation I would have definitely on just the one event and not really applied for other regattas and to help done things differently. I would have been Olympic Games worrying too much about what happened you win the World Championship title expecting it a little bit more and just trying in the rest of the events in the run up to that has proved so elusive in the past? to distance myself from the other guy who the games. Last time I tried to win every was essentially going to try to do this. regatta in the year of the games but you It would be amazing to win the World’s don’t need to win every regatta – as long at some point. It seems to be my jinxed What do you do in your free time when as you win the important ones! It was just event where I always slip up. I think in you’re not sailing the Laser? a shift in focus and trying to peak for just the run up to Athens it was because I just I love to go windsurfing and mountain one event. wasn’t good enough. This time round I think the focus was just somewhere else biking. The only break I’ve had since You seem to have made Qingdao making it easier to slip up. Obviously the being back from China was to go surfing your home, winning the two Olympic conditions were different and there were for a few days. I threw the tent in the back Test Events and the Olympic Gold other guys that were better in stronger of the car and left my phone and computer medal. Could you plan for the difficult winds. at home to get away from it all. conditions in Qingdao? Did you have a game plan for the Who has had the greatest impact on I think after coming 4th last time (in Athens) Olympics? Were there any surprises your sailing? Why? we sat down and decided what for you? Initially my parents as they were the we needed to It was a difficult regatta. My biggest worry ones that took me to all of the sailing was that we had been concentrating so events. Then growing up and competing much on light winds. When we got against Ben Ainslie and actually being his to Qingdao we actually had a couple training partner for the Sydney Olympics of windy races. That for me was the was obviously a great influence. I could © Getty Images biggest fear. I was pretty confident see what was needed to win and how to with myself in the lighter winds but campaign properly. After that I’ve worked not so sure of myself in the stronger closely with my coach Chris Gowers for winds. Going to the Europeans a the last 10 years and he’s had a major couple of weeks before the Olympics influence on my sailing. really helped me because it was so What are you currently listening to on windy at the Europeans and I did your MP3 player? so well it gave me confidence that I could pull through the strong wind The Kooks and Kings of Leon. days too. I think the key was to be What are your sailing goals and plans strong in all conditions. for 2009 and beyond? When I finally get some time to myself I will be taking some time out. Before © Getty Images Christmas I think I will reassess what I am going to do next. In the long term future I would love to do another Olympics and then maybe something like the Volvo Ocean Race or the America’s Cup. What would be your 3 most important tips for sailors starting a 2012 Olympic campaign? 1. Buy my book!! 2. I think it’s all about having fun. I grew up never really aspiring to be an Olympian. I had my heroes, like Daley Thompson, but it was just about having fun on the water. 3. Give it your all and try not to leave any stone unturned. We have heard a rumour that you will be starting a 2012 Olympic campaign in another class. Is this true? I don’t know yet. I am going to wait until the classes are announced. I would obviously love to go Star sailing if that’s a possibility. I love sailing Lasers and if there is the opportunity to go to London in the Laser I would definitely want to take it. Thank you very much for speaking to us. We wish you the best of luck in the future. www.laserinternational.org LaserWorld December 2008 3 Interviews with the Winners... ceremony and I think it had a big impact of me and my sailing ever since. My on my event. When the torch was lit, it hit other coach Luther Carpenter because me that we were there, at the Games, it he has made these last couple of years Olympic Games Anna had started and it was game on!! As for fun and kept me wanting to come back the stress, I tried to have fun with it all. to learn more every time. And then my Also, coming out of the USA we have a idol, Robert Scheidt, for just being a great Tunnicliffe... very stressful Trials system, and I think sailor…his record is very impressive, and Congratulations on winning the Laser having gone through that, I was much it’s something I think we should all strive Radial Olympic Gold Medal. How does better prepared for the event. to achieve. it feel to be the Olympic Champion? What do you do in your free time when What would be your 3 most important Thank you, it feels amazing. It’s been a you’re not sailing the Laser Radial? tips for sailors starting a 2012 Olympic dream of mine since I was 12 or 13 years Now I’m training for my first triathlon, a campaign? old, and to have finally accomplished it is half-ironman at the end of October. I 1. Realize that you are a professional definitely a dream come true. like to do some sailing in other boats to athlete and act try and keep that way. What do you think my learning © Getty Images was the key to your curve going 2. Work hard, success? up, and I but don’t over I had a great support To have finally also enjoy t r a i n … k n o w team with me. I had two accomplished c o a c h i n g . when to stop very good coaches and B e s i d e s and take a some excellent training it is definitely a fitness I like break. partners leading into the to read and 3. Have fun. event. My coaches Mitch dream come h a n g o u t and Luther both played with my T h a n k s a big part in their special true! husband. Anna, we “ wish you areas and my husband Brad Funk spent a lot of What are the best of time in the Radial getting me ready for your sailing luck in the the Games. goals and plans for 2009 and beyond? future. Right now I am planning on sailing the Overall you had a really consistent World Cup series. I am also going to try Olympic Games with only one race and do as much match racing as possible, finish lower than sixth.