Olympic sailors train at the last minute in Kingston before heading to the Games

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KINGSTON – Canadian sailors from 49er FX Ali ten Hove of the Kingston Yacht Club and Mariah Millen of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club complete three weeks of training on Lake Ontario off Kingston before heading to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics .

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In an interview on Monday, ten Hove, 25, a mechanical engineering graduate from Queen’s University, said it was appropriate for the couple to train in Portsmouth Olympic Harbor, a place where they competed together for the first time almost five years ago after sailing in their own boats.

“It’s a full time for us because that’s where we first teamed up and started training and learning this boat, so it’s a good way to sum it all up before heading to Tokyo. “said ten Hove.

“We decided to sail to CORK for the sake of seeing if we would make a great team, and we found out pretty quickly that we did. We have decided to run with it and team up for the 2020 Games, ”said Millen, 23.

The Toronto sailor said the partnership was excellent.

“I couldn’t be happier than with Ali,” she said. “I think our personalities really complement each other, and we both have very similar values ​​and we’re both very good at different areas and that makes the best team we can be.”

“With our ups and downs, we come out stronger and complement each other really well,” said ten Hove.

They made their first appearance together at the ISAF World Sailing Championships in 2018, qualifying for the Gold Fleet and a place on the National Team. They finished 15th at the European Championships in 2019, the best Canadian result ever. They earned their place at the Olympics by finishing fourth at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. They also had a career-best 49er FX World Championship result in February 2020, finishing 18th in Australia.

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The duo also have an Olympic sailing heritage behind them.

Ten Hove’s father Martin competed in the 470 class at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Millen’s father John competed in the Flying Dutchman class at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and won a medal bronze at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

Millen is confident that the Tokyo Olympic Games Organizing Committee will protect athletes from COVID-19 at the Games, despite the country’s low vaccination rates.

As of Monday, only 13.9% of the Japanese population had received two doses, with 25% with a single dose.

“We will be pretty isolated in an Olympic bubble and in our team bubble, so I think all measures have been put in place to make sure that we go and leave the Games safely and that we can do what we do. need. to do, ”said Millen.

While in the bubble, ten Hove said she wouldn’t mind missing out on the regular Olympic experience, like socializing with athletes from around the world and attending events with large crowds.

“I definitely think these Olympics will be different from every other Olympics, but that being said, we only focus on the things that are under our control, and that’s what we’ve always done in sport. sailing and that won’t change from our perspective, ”she said.

Ten Hove and Millen both said the 49er FX fleet is wide open.

“It’s anyone’s game,” ten Hove said. “Our goal is just to make sure we show up and put our best foot forward in every race we’re there and leave everything on the water. If we do, we’ll be really happy.

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“Before the Olympics our class is so tight that anything can happen, but our goal is to go out there and work together as a unit and do our best, and if we do, we’ll be happy.” , said Millen. . “Obviously winning a medal has been a dream for both of us since we were kids, but getting into the top 10. We’ll be feeling great, but we’re aiming for gold in 2024.”

The duo competed in a test event at the Olympic site in 2019 after competing in the 2019 Pan American Games, where they finished just after the medals.

“We have a feeling it’s going to be windy or a light sea breeze, so we have an idea, and we have no expectations and just take what we get,” said Millen.

They have been training in Kingston for the past two weeks, coached by Canadian sailor Laser Robert Davis, and will be in Kingston until Friday, then spend some time in Toronto before leaving for Japan on July 12.

Both sailors appreciate the support they received from their home yacht clubs.

“We are so happy to represent each of our yacht clubs and make them proud,” said Millen.

“We are very grateful for all the support,” said ten Hove. “Obviously, with the postponement of the Olympics for another year, we were really lucky to have such a strong support system that supports and encourages us. With Olympic history and excellence, they support us all. They are the main reason I go to the Olympics.

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