Keller’s Olympic dream dashed as trials are not being rescheduled
By Shane Brophy
Sailor Aisling Keller has expressed her disappointment and frustration after learning she won’t be going to the rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
Irish Sailing, the governing body, have decided to nominate 2016 Olympic silver medallist Annalise Murphy to compete after the final two trial regattas were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also caused the postponement of the Olympics which were due to start next months.
Originally there were three trial regattas to be used to determine whether Keller, who earned Ireland’s spot in the Olympic Games, along with Murphy, Aoife Hopkins and Eve McMahon would take the spot in the boat in Japan.
The ILCA Laser Radial Women’s World Championship were held Melbourne, Australia last February, prior to the shutdown of major international sport. The remaining two trial regattas, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma, Spain (28 March – 4 April) and the Hyéres Regatta in France (18 – 25 April) were cancelled.
Under the selection process, if one or more of the trial regattas are cancelled, then the person with the best performance in the completed trial(s) regattas secures the Laser Radial nomination with Annalise Murphy finishing the ILCA Laser Radial Women’s World Championship in 12th place, Aoife Hopkins 40th, Aisling Keller 63rd, and Eve McMahon 78th.
In a statement explaining the decision, James O’Callaghan, Irish Sailing Performance Director said “Annalise’s performance in the 2020 Worlds made her a clear favourite to win the scheduled trials.
“By nominating her now the Irish Sailing Board have ensured that team preparations can move focus to the Olympics rather than preparing for domestic trials”
However, Aisling Keller says Irish Sailing should have found another way for the final two trail regattas to take place, rather than adhering strictly to the rules, particularly in the circumstances the final two trials were cancelled.
“It’s frustrating to not have the chance to redeem myself after a disappointing result in Australia,” she said.
“I was under the impression that the latter two trial regattas would be replaced for regattas later on in the year, rather than scrapped, which is contrary to most other Olympic sports. As far as I know every other Olympic sport are rejigging trials rather than just working off one trial.”
Keller argued that the rules and regulations in the document regarding the Olympic qualifiers for 2020 should be voided because of the specific dates regarding qualifiers, plus the Olympics itself. However, the governing body have decided to stick with the original regulations which has led to frustration for Keller and the other two sailors haven’t got a chance to compete fully, despite their being just over a year to the rescheduled Olympics.
She said: “The European Championships are in October and there are competitions organised already for next year. A lot of other countries used the World Championships in Australia as their first trial as well and had two other regattas as trials, but everything was cancelled. There are a lot of other countries finding a way to end trials with two more competitions.
“Time wasn’t against Ireland Sailing to make their decision.”
“Time wasn’t against Ireland Sailing to make their decision.”
She added: “We thought about appealing it but within that system it would go basically it’s all political so the chances of you winning the appeal seemed to be low, plus I didn’t want to be making enemies of Irish Sailing either.
“Looking at the bigger picture it was just safer for me not to appeal it because it could have gone to court.”
“Looking at the bigger picture it was just safer for me not to appeal it because it could have gone to court.”
Prior to the decision not to select Aisling Keller for the Olympic Games, the Lough Derg Yacht Club member had resigned from Irish Sailing in April and would have sailed independently had the two remaining trials gone ahead. This was mainly due to the high-performance team set-up not working for all, Keller admitted.
“I resigned from Irish Sailing because I didn’t feel happy within the team and didn’t feel I was maximising my potential,” she said.
“I felt I had plateaued and wasn’t happy with by progress.
“There are two Greek girls who don’t train together because of competitiveness but in Ireland there hadn’t been that many girls that have gotten to the level we have. This was the first time we had a senior girls’ team and they have based all their training around Annalise Murphy and it just didn’t suit me.”
The only hope for Aisling to maintain her hopes of going to Tokyo next year now rests with the Olympic Federation of Ireland who must sign off on Irish Sailings nomination of Annalise Murphy. If unsuccessful, attention will turn to the 2024 Games in Paris and Aisling Keller is keen to follow her Olympic dream.
“I don’t see myself going for 2024 in the laser radial class but there is a new keel boat class which is offshore racing which would be a three-day race overnight,” she said.
“I would be interested in that, but I don’t have much experience in it. I have some people interested in me trying out with them.
“Irish Sailing have said they are not supporting that class. However, I would be able to qualify for the 2024 Games but once you qualify the national association has to support you.”
For now, Aoife plans to return to college and complete her physiotherapy degree, as well as continuing her love for sailing which has brought her all over the world, making great friends and learning a lot of life lessons.
“I still love sailing and will get out as much as I can,” she said.
“I will enjoy sailing and take the pressure off myself. The last few years have been hectic, and the pressure has been on and it’s been stressful enough. I am going to take some time and sail different boats and broaden my horizons within the sailing world and enjoy it.”
She added: “My campaign so far has been full of ups and downs but all the same it’s been a great journey.
“When I first started sailing if someone told me I would win a European Under 21 silver medal, a national title and qualify the country for the Olympics, I would have told them they’re dreaming.”