Keller aims to get closer to Olympic dream

By Thomas Conway

 

This Friday, Aisling Keller will take to the waters off south-eastern Japan in a bid to secure Olympic qualification for next years’ Tokyo Games.

Keller forms part of an ambitious Irish women’s squad which are competing in the 2019 World Laser Championships in Sakaiminato City, Japan.

A highly-anticipated occasion on the global sailing calendar, this event has the potential to determine which national teams are awarded an Olympic berth. However, success in Sakaiminato will only guarantee qualification at a team-level. To gain individual entry, sailors will have to prove their worth at a number of events over the coming months.

Ireland have already been struck by disappointment at these World Championships, after their men’s squad were unable to secure one of the five Olympic qualifying places up for grabs.

The mantle now falls on Keller and her teammates to tack (or turn) the Irish boat in a new direction – a difficult challenge, considering the elite standard of opposition. But speaking to Aisling, who has spent the past two weeks in Japan acclimatising to the surroundings, anything seems possible. Sailing can be notoriously unpredictable - winds of change blow continuously out there on the water, and with every gust comes a new opportunity.

“Sailing is the most variable sport in the world, by far,” she said.

“Literally every day is different – you could have huge winds and waves coming at you one day, and then the next day there might be no wind at all. So obviously you have to ready for that, it’s all part of the challenge.”

 

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