Mike Leigh's Sailing Blog

The Games finished up a couple of weeks ago, and the whole thing has been an amazing experience. While I had planned to have done better, I was very pleased with the comeback I made after a less then ideal start to the regatta. Having had a bit of time to digest what has happened, and looking back, I would have hardly changed a thing from a preparation standpoint.

Going into the event, I realized that there were going to be lots of ups and downs; however, I dont think I was completely prepared for craziness of the Olympics, which I think is the downfall of a lot of first time Olympic racers. The racing had several moments that turned it on its head, and the number of distractions that are not normally there(both on and off the water) were staggering. My coach and I both thought this games was particularly bad from a distraction standpoint, however, Olympic veteran Andy Geritzer (2004 silver medalist), assured us that all of this was quite normal.

It was a bit of a shock to finish the Olympics, and left many of the sailors saying, "what now?" I certainly felt this way, as the abruptness of the end certainly dawns the shocking reality of the real world. Gone are the days spent training and logistical planning. Instead, it is time to figure out what to do next.

At this stage, my plan is to keep sailing as much as possible. There is a busy circuit down under, and between Farr 40 and laser racing I should keep myself relatively busy. It is great to finally have a break from the intensity of racing internationally, so I think I will use this opportunity over the next couple of months to branch out into different things and challenges.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank all my sponsors and supports who have helped me get this far. In particular, I would like to thank the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, PJ Phelan Foundation, Canadian Athletes Now Fund, BC Sailing and the Canadian Yachting Association as without their support, I would not have been able to sail full time, and have this amazing opportunity. I would also like to thank Zhik sailing clothing, Hudsons Bay Company(HBC) and Kaenon sunglasses for their support. These companies produce fantastic products and I encourage you all to support them. Lastly, I would like to thank all the individuals who have helped me throughout this journey, along with people who provided support and encouragement along the way. Unfortunately, there are far to many to list, but I would like to extend a huge thank you as without your help, I wouldnt have gotten this far.