GOLDEN GIRL SAILS ONTO PODIUM
CHELSEANN Osborne, 17, has become Townsville’s new golden girl after sailing to victory at the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Osborne, who graduated from Pimlico State High School last year, won gold by sailing solo in Level 5 of the Laser fleet class competition in Abu Dhabi.
She was supported all the way by her family and Townsville Sailing Club teammates, but it was Osborne’s seamanship and unshakeable determination that propelled her to victory.
“It’s pretty crazy to think that I was one of the youngest people at the competition and I won,” Osborne said.
“Sometimes things didn’t go to plan at all, and there was one race I will openly say was one of the worst I’ve ever had.”
But Osborne, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, sailed on, and no matter how tough the conditions became, she was tougher.
That steely determination was forged after overcoming a struggle for confidence.
“When I first started I really struggled with the sport, but only in the past three years I’ve been achieving results,” Osborne said.
“I just stopped comparing myself to other competitors and focused on what I’ve wanted to achieve, not focusing on things like ‘that person is better that, I won’t beat them’.
“I just focused on what I had to do.”
Osborne, who has an intellectual disability, was last year named Queensland and Australia’s Sailor of the Year with a Disability, and won gold and silver at the 2018 Special Olympics National Games.
The born and raised Townsville talent loves her sport, but does not shy away from the struggles that can come with it.
“It can be hard to stay motivated, especially with Special Olympics,” Osborne said
“I live up here and the closest competition for sailing is on the Gold Coast.
“So I do a lot of my training and sailing in mainstream competitions.
“It makes me a lot stronger because I compete against really hard competitors all weekend.”
Sailing in diverse competitions around North Queensland also helped turn Osborne into a world beater.
“It’s really helpful living in North Queensland because we have a bay, then we go up to lakes up north,” she said.
“In Abu Dhabi it was a lot like the conditions here, but when I was in Adelaide for nationals last year it was a lot like Mission Beach.
“So I can just close my eyes and think I’m at that location and sail as if I was there.”
Townsville Sailing Club commodore Craig Knight said Osborne was a role model to all sailors.
“It’s very inspiring to see her not get upset by the little things,” he said.