Double Olympic champion Martine Grael has been named driver of the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, which will enter the league next season.
Grael’s appointment, which was announced alongside the news that Rio will host Brazil’s first SailGP event, is a historic first for SailGP, with Grael marking the league’s first female driver.
Reacting to the news, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts said the Brazil team would be a ‘serious contender’ in the 2024/25 Season.
“We’re delighted to confirm Martine Grael as driver for the nation’s first SailGP team. Martine is an incredible talent and has shown she can win at the highest levels of elite sailing,” Coutts said.
A Rio national, Grael’s already illustrious career includes two Olympic golds won at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as offshore racing experience with Team AkzoNobel in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race.
Grael added that she was ‘honored’ to lead the Brazilian team and described being the first woman to drive an F50 as a ‘new and challenging project’.
“We will start a new chapter in the competition that brings together the best in the world, at the same time that Rio de Janeiro launches its first stage. It could not be a better moment for our team.”
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The nomination of Grael as driver continues a trend in professional sailing that is thoroughly establish at this point. The pro series keep looking to top 49er, and now FX sailors for success. Looking at the America’s Cup, each of the last three Gold Medalists are in the drivers seats, with Outteridge (AUS), Burling (NZL) and Fletcher (GBR). On the sailGP circuit is the recent 49er Gold medalist in Botin (ESP with Heil (GER) and Schneiter (SUI) making waves in SailGP. Additionally, many of the 49er and FX crews are taking the trimming and ride height roles on these foiling boats. Olympic skiff racing combines everything necessary for a strong pro career. It’s an incredible crucible for talent to emerge from, on an athletic boat with a team mate, all done at the speed and intensity unrivaled in sailing.
Relieve the 2016 medal race where Martine Grael took the winfrom ne Zealand in the Rio Olympics (starts at 1h49m).
https://olympics.com/en/video/sailing-m-w-470-2p-m-49er-w-49er-fx-rio-2016-replays
