USA 470 WOMEN QUALIFY OLYMPIC BERTH
McDowell/Kinsolving to Represent USA in Athens

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (May 17, 2004) - With the conclusion yesterday of the 470 World Championships, the final Olympic qualifying event for the class, the USA has now qualified its entry in the 470 Women's event at the Olympic Regatta in Athens.  Katie McDowell (Barrington, R.I.) and Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.) placed eighth overall in the 53-boat fleet, their best finish at a world championship. 

The 470 World Championship, held in Zadar, Croatia, allowed five previously unqualified nations to earn their Olympic berth in the 470 Women's division.  ARG, CAN, BRA, and ITA joined the USA in qualifying through this event.  The result by McDowell/Kinsolving also means that the USA will send a full sailing team of 18 athletes in 11 events to the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.  Only six other nations - AUS, ESP, FRA, GBR, GER, and ITA - have qualified to send an entry for all of the sailing events.  Greece, as host country, receives an automatic entry in every event.

Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) with Sarah Mergenthaler (Colt's Neck, N.J.) finished 22nd overall in the women's fleet.

In the 470 Men's division, Olympic medalists Paul Foerster (Rockwall, Texas) and Kevin Burnham (Miami, Fla.) finished 14th in their 101 boat fleet. Stu McNay (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) and Arthur Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.) placed 66th overall.

The 470 World Championships also qualified the final six countries for the 470 Men's Olympic event:  TUR, POL, BEL, KOR, HUN, AUT.

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