We’re not here to bury the US Olympic Team, they seem to have done just fine doing that themselves. Out of the 9 classes sailed (still not sure how in the hell it’s possible for the US to not have a representative in the men’s 49er class), the overall individual class finishers were 9, 12, 13, 37, 9, 9, 15, 11, 13. Nary a sniff at a single medal.
We’re not going to break down what went wrong in each class, (that would be a really long and arduous article), but all you have to do is say “Scoreboard”. That’s what a football team that was beating another team once said to a player from the losing team who was jumping around after a good play that he made. One player from the winning team looked at the dude, pointed to the score, which reflected a beating, and said: “Scoreboard” as in you’re getting your ass handed to you, son. The numbers don’t lie.
How badly did the US get beat in these Olympics? Not a single US boat from any class won a single race. Not one single win out of what 80 races or so. Not one win.And it gets worse if you look at the last three Olympics. All them dollas being spent, with those sort of results, it ain’t exactly a good ROI…
No, the burying here goes to US Sailing and their absolutely abysmal effort and putting together at least a decent team. For something that is supposedly holy to US Sailing, this is a huge embarrassment. Former (and grossly overpaid) “CEO” Jack Gierhart is the primary culprit, along with the rest of sorry ass US Sailing. What has every god damn ad from them featured for like, forever? Olympics!!! Olympics!!! Olympics!!!
And yet, what was delivered? Almost nothing and Giehart should give back the over $200,000 annual salary he was getting. A near-total disgrace.
So now King Kayard is upon us to right the wrongs. We’re not holding our breath, although he surely can’t do any worse, can he? Can he?? You know he is going to demand even more money be spent. Where will that come from and will the other US Sailing programs suffer because of it? Perhaps the King will donate his salary to the cause?
Beyond that, we question why this pressing need to be in the Olympics even matters anymore. Wouldn’t the amounts that go into the Olympics be better spent elsewhere? You know, like for the very sailing community it supposedly is here to support?
Besides the individual sailor, who really benefits from the Olympics? The warm feeling one gets when we win? Sure, and that means what, exactly? The greater good of the sport is really what matters in the long run. Time to look at what gets this sport to a new horizon.
And be sure to note that any faux rosy view or bullshit spin that is put on US Olympic sailing you might read from some other publication, just may be paid for by US Sailing. Don’t be fooled by the glad-handing, there are some real sell-outs out there.
9, 12, 13, 37, 9, 9, 15, 11, 13? That doesn’t really matter. The sport matters and the sport is suffering and shrinking. We need to reprioritize. While we are certain to get hate from people (as if that has ever mattered to us) , we’d guess we aren’t alone in this perspective. It’s time to do better.