World Finn champ bows to Junior in medal bid
Maloney on shore as coach with Kiwi Usain Boat taking Tokyo spot
World Finn champion Andy Maloney will not get to sail at the Tokyo Olympics — his consolation prize will be to travel to Japan as coach of Josh Junior, the man picked ahead of him for New Zealand’s sole spot in the class.
Maloney won the Finn Gold Cup — the world title for the heavyweight dinghy — in Portugal this month, with Junior third.
But Junior, who in 2019 became the first Kiwi to win the Finn Gold Cup since its introduction in 1956 and placed seventh at the 2016 Rio Games, has been preferred by the Olympic selectors.
Maloney and Junior are good friends and training partners, an approach that reaped dividends when both finished on the Gold Cup podium this month. Junior heads to Japan confident about his chances of standing on the Games podium.
“I feel honoured and excited to get the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics,” said the 31-year-old.
“It’s incredibly special to be a part of the team and I can’t wait to get there and try to win gold for New Zealand.
“Andy and I have been building up to these Games a long time now. We’ve worked closely together and it was always going to be tough to decide who would represent New Zealand at the Olympics. I’m incredibly lucky to have the current world champion coaching me, but I feel for him at the same time.
“Rio was an amazing experience for me. Although the result was tough, it has taught us a lot that we’ve built into this campaign. I’m looking forward to working further with Andy as we look ahead to Tokyo.”
Maloney was philosophical about missing out, especially as he narrowly missed a spot for the Rio Olympics to Sam Meech in the Laser, but supported the decision.
“It’s mixed feelings for me,” he said. “I’m obviously disappointed to not be competing in Tokyo but can be happy with my progression in the Finn over the Olympic cycle. Thanks to Josh and our coaches, I can bow out of the Finn as the world champ, which is pretty cool.
“Josh sailed incredibly well through our selection series, winning the 2019 world championships and then following it up with another spot on the podium this year.
“He’s quick and racing really well, so I can’t wait to continue pushing him over the next two months and supporting him through these final stages of the campaign.”
The selection of Junior rounds out the New Zealand sailing team to compete at Enishoma, the sailing venue for the Tokyo Olympics. He joins Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er), Alex Maloney and Molly Meech (49erFX), Sam Meech (Laser), Paul Snow-Hansen and Dan Willcox (men’s 470) and Micah Wilkinson and Erica Dawson (Nacra 17).
Yachting New Zealand high performance director Ian Stewart said Junior’s selection represented another milestone for the sailing team with the Games to start in less than two months.
“We’re thrilled for JJ, but definitely feel for Andy,” Stewart said. “It’s a shame they both can’t be on the start line because they’ve set a new level for New Zealand sailors working together. Having both in Japan is a real strength to the team.
“Given the unknowns and added pressures of these Olympics, it’s great to have an experienced and tight team.”
Junior’s initial pathway was in the Laser, where he climbed to second on the world rankings, but he narrowly missed out on selection for the 2012 London Olympics and soon switched to the heavyweight dinghy. He made a successful transition and earned selection for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Junior grew up in Wellington and started sailing with his father at the age of five.