Paralympic gold medallist Tesch praises Olympic sailors for assistance

NSWIS sailor Liesl Tesch has praised her Olympian teammates for the assistance they provided Australian Paralympic sailors in the lead up to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

Australian sailing has had reason to celebrate after bringing home a combined seven medals, the most ever, from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. NSWIS athletes had a hand in five of those.

The haul of seven medals eclipses the previous best efforts from London 2012 and Sydney 2000, where Aussie sailors netted a combined five medals.

While Aussie Olympians celebrated four medals in Rio, it was the Paralympians who continued the good form and had reason to celebrate after winning medals in all three classes, two of them gold.

Speaking at a celebratory function for Australia’s Paralympic athletes at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Tesch said that the success at the Paralympics was down to some sound advice from their Olympian teammates.

“We really benefitted from the success of our Olympic team,” Tesch told Australian Sailing Team media.

“The knowledge and insights they were able to provide us really helped us in Rio. The entire Australian Sailing Team is an amazing unit that works together well and are deserved of the success we’ve all shared.”

The record-breaking run for Australia’s sailing stars began during the Olympics in August, highlighted by the NSWIS’ Tom Burton winning gold in the Laser class on the final day of competition. His success came off the back of a risky tactical move to displace Croatian opponent Tonci Stipanovic.

With silver medals at the Olympics were fellow NSWIS sailors Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse, the cousins producing the race of their lives in the medal round to surge up the rankings and finish just one point off gold.

Also claiming silver at the Olympics was Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen in the 49er class.

It was then the turn of the Paralympians, who picked up where the Olympians left off, NSWIS athletes doing their bit to add to the medal winning fun.

Leading the charge were NSWIS duo Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch winning gold in the SKUD18 class, in the process becoming the first Paralympic sailors in history to defend their Olympic title.

Then it was time for Jon Harris (NSWIS) to do his bit, and he didn’t disappoint, claiming gold in the Sonar class alongside Colin Harrison and Russel Boaden.

Burton and Darmanin were also present at the reception to help celebrate the Australian Paralympic sailing contingent.