Introducing the inaugural US Youth National Team
As part of the new pathway for sailors with Olympic aspirations, US Sailing has named the first Youth National Team.
The team is comprised of sailors under the age of 19 who compete in the 29er, i420, Nacra 15, ILCA 6, iQFOiL, and Formula Kite.
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“Our goal is to bring the top youth sailors in the US together as one team, to train in collaborative settings and compete for the USA,” says Phil Muller, US Sailing Youth Performance Manager and Head Coach of the US Youth Team.
While the Youth Worlds Team has been around for many years, the Youth National Team was created to encompass a broader pool of nationally recognized talent beyond the 16 who will qualify for the Youth World Championship.
“Adding the Youth National Team is the clear next step in the evolution of our program. We want to give youth sailors a clear goal based on objective results, and a path for national-level support” said John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Racing Director. “Our goal is to support the development of the best sailors in the world, and to build a strong team culture that helps them develop into great people.”
Athletes on the National Team will benefit from a structured calendar of events that offer robust annual training and competition support. This includes the opportunity to attend class-specific training camps this spring and early summer in preparation for international competitions in July and August. With the 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships in December 2025, the summer will be an important marker to identify where individual sailors are developmentally and lay the groundwork toward Youth Worlds selection in the fall.
“The training schedule and deliverables for each sailor are bespoke, and based on the unique needs of each class, its sailors, and future development of vital skills,” Phil noted. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of young athletes, as well as their coaches, clubs, and supporters at home.”
A total of 66 sailors from Hawaii to the east coast were named to the Team. You can see the full roster and event schedule here.
These sailors earned this distinction through a combination of competitive success, consistent effort, and a remarkable commitment to personal growth.