At just 21 years old, New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete Grae Morris is proving that an Olympic silver medal was just the beginning of his journey.

Since his stellar performance at the Paris 2024 Games, the young Australian windsurfing sensation has been embracing new challenges across multiple water sports, collecting accolades, and preparing for the next phase of his iQFOiL career.

Following the Games, Morris took time to reset, but it didn’t take long for his obsession with the water to take over again and he was back in the ocean.

From foil stand-up paddleboard (SUP) to wing foiling and surfing, he has spent the past months making the most of Australia’s incredible summer conditions.

“I spent a lot of time just jumping back in the water doing a bit of everything that I missed out on during the Games,” he said.

“It was just about taking the right amount of time off and getting back together with my other crafts.”

His love for the water extended beyond sailing, as he participated in foiling SUP downwind races in Perth and Sydney, enjoying the thrill of new competition formats.

“There was a squad of about 70 of us on one of the start lines, which was awesome,” said Morris.

“Australia’s the best country in the world for this stuff. There is so much opportunity, especially in Sydney.”

“You can wake up with no plan, and suddenly your whole day is packed with activities.”

Grae’s Olympic accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, with his name featuring heavily during the 2024 sports award season.

He was nominated for Young World Sailor of the Year, Australian Sailing’s Male Sailor of the Year, and Emerging Athlete of the Year at the Australian Sports Performance Awards.

He won Young Athlete of the Year at the NSWIS Awards.

Reflecting on these recognitions, he said, “It was just cool to have sailing up there for some of these awards.”

“Being a nominee I got to go to the events, mingle with the athletes from other sports, and make new friends.”

“Winning a few of them was super special.”

Morris at Sail Melbourne. Credit: Beau Outteridge / Sail Melbourne 2024

Despite exploring new disciplines, Grae has stayed sharp in iQFOiL, competing in local regattas across Australia including Sail Sydney and Sail Melbourne.

Most recently, he travelled to New Zealand for the iQFOiL Nationals, where he secured the championship title, battling against the top New Zealander and his training partner Josh Armit.

“That lit the fire,” he admitted.

“Now we’re all ready to get overseas and see how we stand up against the Europeans.”

A significant change in the iQFOiL class has also kept Morris busy, with the men transitioning from a nine meter to an eight meter sail, and the women shifting from eight meters to 7.3 meters.

“It’s been a slow but smooth process,” he explained.

“We’re still figuring out what works best, and the next few regattas overseas will be crucial in testing that.”

Morris is now gearing up for the European season, which will test his skills against the world’s best.

First up is the iQFOiL Games in Cádiz, Spain, followed by the iconic Trofeo Princesa Sofía in Palma, Mallorca, the first Sailing Grand Slam event of the year.

“It’s always good racing in Palma.”

“Every Olympic class comes together, and it’s like getting the band back together after the off-season,” he said.

“You can get anything there, full wetsuit conditions or board shorts and sunshine.”

“It’s either windy or light — so it really shows whether you’ve put in the right work over our summer.”

With his sights set firmly on the next Olympic cycle, Grae knows the road to Los Angeles 2028 is filled with opportunity.

“We’ve got three or four years of big competition ahead,” he said.

“It’s about staying accurate, climbing back to the top of the fleet, and learning as much as possible so that nothing goes to waste by the time 2028 comes.”

From the podium in Paris to the open waters of Australia and beyond, Morris continues to push the limits, whether in competition, new disciplines, or simply embracing the freedom of the ocean.

One thing is certain – he’s only just getting started.

Story: Australian Sailing Team

Photographs: Beau Outteridge

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