Grae Morris Selected to Sail for Australia in Paris

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Grae Morris has been selected in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024. Morris showed his world class ability finishing fourth in February’s iQFOiL World Championships in Lanzarote.

Twenty-year-old Morris will contest the new iQFOiL class, which makes its Olympic debut in Paris, replacing the RS:X as the windsurfing event on the Olympic programme. The iQFOiL is a much faster form of windsurfing, with athletes reaching top speeds of more than 60km/h.

Australian Chef de Mission for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares celebrated the duo’s selection.

“Congratulations to Grae on his selection to the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024,” Ms Meares said.

“Grae is world class athletes who will represent Australia with pride and contribute to our rich Olympic sailing legacy.

“Grae has already demonstrated he is an incredible talent, finishing fourth at the World Championships, and I look forward to Aussie fans getting behind him as the iQFOiL class makes its debut in Paris.

“It takes a village to raise an Olympian, and I extend my congratulations to the athletes’ coaches, families, Australian Sailing, Australian and state institutes of sport and all who have helped them on their journey to the Olympic Games.”

Sydney local Morris’s selection comes off the back of a year that included finishing fourth at the Olympic Test event, and top 10 finishes at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships.

“It was a childhood dream to go to the Olympic Games, to see it finally coming together is amazing!” Morris said.

“Finishing fourth in our last Worlds in the lead up to the Olympics shows we are heading in the right direction. It’s all experience that I need to do my best when the time comes.”

“The iQFOiL is fast in all conditions and exciting to watch. It’s a pure adrenaline rush and I think everyone is going to love it!”

Australian Sailing President Alistair Murray AM congratulated the athletes on their selection.

“Australian Sailing is incredibly proud of what Matt and Grae have achieved, and we look forward to watching them represent Australia on the Olympic racetrack,” said Mr Murray.

“Both athletes have sacrificed so much to get themselves to the peak of their respective classes. We commend them, their coaches Rafa and Arthur, their families and all those who have supported them to get them where they are today.”

Morris and Wearn join Breiana Whitehead, who was selected in late 2023, on the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with further sailing selections expected in the coming months.

Article courtesy of Australian Olympic Committee