FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2016
Portsmouth, R.I. – US Sailing announced today that U.S. Olympian and World Champion Molly Vandemoer (Stanford, Calif.) has joined the staff of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) as Program Manager. In this role, Vandemoer will work with sailors, families, coaches, host organizations and youth sailing stakeholders to assist with the day-to-day and strategic management of the ODP.
“We are excited to bring Molly onboard,” said Josh Adams, Managing Director of US Olympic Sailing. “In addition to being an accomplished athlete, she brings a wealth of youth development experience to the effort. The ODP is a vital part of fostering the future of high-performance sailing in the U.S., and Molly’s involvement will greatly strengthen the program.”
In the ODP’s first twelve months of operation, the program ran nearly two dozen high-level training camps around the country, impacting over 230 of America’s top-performing youth sailors. Participants received world-class coaching from accomplished professionals such as Ed Baird, Anna Tunnicliffe, Willie McBride, Grant “Fuzz” Spanhake, Zach Railey, Dee Smith, Mark Littlejohn, Chris Rast, Tom Burnham, Rulo Borojovich, Stu McNay, Brendan Casey, Mike Kalin, Dane Wilson, and Steve Keen. ODP coaches worked with kids in the Laser Radial, 29er, I420, RS:X, and F16 classes, and also ran College Sailing and High-Performance clinics at Oakcliff Sailing (Oyster Bay, New York) in the Nacra 17, 49er and 49erFX Olympic classes.
“Through the ODP, US Sailing has made a much-needed investment in youth development,” said Vandemoer, who as a member of the US Sailing Team Sperry campaigned for the Olympics in an impressive three different classes (470, Elliott 6M and 49erFX). “I’m excited to bring my experiences and point of view to the table. I can’t wait to help the ODP grow and expand into a solid stepping stone for motivated athletes.”
Starting immediately, Vandemoer will be the the primary point-of-contact for all inquiries related to the Olympic Development program and related camps, regattas and travel teams. She can be reached at the following address: youthdevelopment@ussailing.org
Pictured: Vandemoer (right) is a London 2012 Olympian and Women’s Match Racing World Champion, along with former teammates Anna Tunnicliffe (left) and Debbie Capozzi (center). Photo: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images.
Quick Links:
About US Sailing’s Olympic Development Program:
US Sailing’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) was launched in January 2015 to lead the progression of the most promising youth sailing talent in the US. Guided by the US Olympic Sailing Committee’s Project Pipeline strategic initiative, the ODP fosters an integrated approach to training in the core development and Olympic classes, and is part of a system to provide the United States with a steady stream of well-prepared sailors. Some of these athletes will go on to represent Team USA at The Olympic Games, and provide the national team with consistent success. The fundamental premise of the ODP is to focus on the critical transition from youth sailing to high performance racing in Olympic classes. The ODP is funded through generous donations by individuals and organizations. The lead gift as well as a matching grant has been provided by the AmericaOne Foundation, and the US Olympic Sailing Program is actively seeking supporters to meet this generous match. For more information on the ODP and the AmericaOne Match campaign, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics
About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org
(end)
Press Contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 (978) 697-2384