Silver Lining for Morris at French Olympic Week

French Olympic Week in Hyères delivered everything from the roaring mistral winds that pushed physical limits to the patience-testing light airs that demanded calm and clarity. Among the standout performances was New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Grae Morris, who claimed a silver medal in the iQFOiL class.

After dominating the fleet racing and mounting an impressive lead, Morris faced light and a patchy breeze in the must-win medal showdown. China’s Kun Bi claimed two straight wins to secure the gold, leaving Morris to settle for second despite a brilliant week on the water. It was another milestone for the 21-year-old from NSW in what has been a flying start to his 2025 season.

“Super stoked with how this European block went,” said Morris.

“I managed to bring home a podium finish in every event, and with two of them being first place it feels amazing. Along with this came lots of discoveries and learnings that I’ll be taking home with me to think over for a few months before Worlds start in July.”

The future also looks bright for Australia in the Nacra 17, where three Australian teams qualified for the Medal Race. Paris 2024 Olympians and NSWIS athletes Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown showed poise and consistency to finish fifth overall, pushing hard for what would have been their first major international podium.

While they narrowly missed the medals, Brown remained positive about their progression.

“There’s a bit of a letdown today, but that’s all right,” Brown reflected.

“We ended up getting third last when we needed to beat pretty much everyone that was in the top pack. Unfortunately, that drops us back to fifth, so two fifth places from Palma then here in Hyères, but hopefully at the next regatta in Greece (the European Championships) we can get away with a podium finish.”

Siblings Ruben and Rita Booth found their rhythm late in the regatta, climbing to finish seventh overall. National Squad teammates and NSWIS athletes Archie Gargett and Sarah Hoffman also impressed, closing out their event in eighth. While both teams were out of medal contention, the opportunity to race a Medal Race on the international stage provided invaluable experience for the season ahead.

Australian Sailing High Performance Director Iain Brambell was on the ground throughout the week, witnessing first-hand the growth, grit and adaptability displayed from the Australian athletes.

“French Olympic Week is an annual mainstay on the international calendar, providing sailors with critical assessments against the international fleet to compare, contrast and refine their learnings towards future performance improvements,” said Brambell.

“For coaches and selectors, it’s a vital opportunity to see who is stepping up and where we need to focus next.”

He continued, “Although we missed the presence of the ILCA National Squads, who made the performance-minded decision to prepare for their World Championships in two weeks’ time, their absence created opportunities for other Australians to step up and shine. We saw athletes adapt with resilience and maturity, reinforcing the depth and ambition building within Australian Sailing.”

This marks the start of a packed international season for the Australian Sailing Team. Next up is the ILCA World Championships in Qingdao, China (10–17 May), followed by a full slate of World and European Championships, all part of the team’s drive to deliver consistent podium performances on the road to LA 2028.

Story: Australian Sailing Team

Images: Sailing Energy