Selection

2019 Selection and Funding – US Sailing Team

Selection

Qualification for the 2019 US Sailing Team

  1. All Olympic classes
    • All athletes/teams who have finished in the top 20 of the fleet at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 will qualify for the team.
    • The top eligible finisher in each class who also finishes in the top 10 of the fleet at the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami will qualify for the team. If the top eligible finisher at the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami has already qualified for the team, the next eligible athlete/team who also finishes in the top 10 of the fleet will qualify for the team.
    • All athletes/teams who have qualified to represent Team USA at the 2019 Pan American Games in a 2020 Olympic class will qualify for the team.
    • Discretionary Selection: eligible athletes may be selected by US Sailing (post-World Cup Series USA Miami and/or later in the year) based on the following criteria:
      1. Regatta results, with consideration to finishing position at the 2019 pre-regattas held January 19 - 21, 2019 (prior to the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami) and finishing position at the 2019 World Cup Series USA Miami
      2. Recent results in international Olympic-level competition
      3. Athlete/team plan for training and racing in 2019 with a goal of Tokyo 2020, as approved by the Chief of Olympic Sailing, Malcolm Page.
    • All athletes who, in 2018, qualified for 2019 A1- or A2-level funding will be eligible for 2019 Elite Athlete Health Insurance (EAHI)
  1. Before being formally placed on the US Sailing Team, athletes who have qualified above must:
    • Submit a full athlete/team plan for training and racing in 2019 with a goal of Tokyo 2020, as approved by the Chief of Olympic Sailing, Malcolm Page;
    • Execute the US Sailing Team Athlete Agreement, and;
    • Execute the Code of Conduct.
  1. Athletes or teams that have been placed on the 2019 US Sailing Team will be removed from the team if/when:
    • They resign from the US Sailing Team or retire from active Olympic-class competition.
    • They are found in violation of the Code of Conduct by the OSC.
    • The 2020 US Sailing Team is selected.

Funding

2019 Direct Athlete Support (DAS) Details, Tasks, and Conditions

Funding from the USOC and OSC is earned through the combination of on-the-water performance and subsequently completed tasks. Athlete DAS level will be determined according to the result at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 held in Aarhus, Denmark from July 30-August 12, 2018.

2019 Funding Levels (Based on 2018 results):

Level
Achieved the Following
A1
 Finish on the Podium at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018
A2
 Finish within the top 10 countries at the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018

Funding amount per athlete will be determined in January 2019.

2019 Funding Stipulations

Athletes who reach A1- or A2-level based on the 2018 event must complete the following tasks in 2019 to receive their funding:

  1. Submit Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that describe a program capable of leading to a medal in 2020 by October 29, 2018, to be discussed and approved by Chief of Olympic Sailing (COS).
  2. Follow KPIs. Plan to include a commitment to training in collaborative environment and competition days.*
  3. Attend US Sailing Team Training Camps, Theory Camps and peak events as per the KPIs and approved by COS.
  4. Participate in Team Fitness Program or other professional physical fitness program as agreed. Complete regular tracking of program and physical assessments as assigned by Strength and Conditioning Coach. Complete medical screening as assigned, including promptly informing, coach, COS and Performance Enhancement Team Director of any significant illness or injuries.
  5. Submit updates of KPIs with projected and actual training/racing days as well as physical fitness program updates as required.
  6. All payments for DAS funding will be contingent upon meeting both training and requirements for regular reporting.
  7. Execute and abide by the 2019 Athlete Agreement and Code of Conduct.

* Plan may be reduced for active students with prior approval.

Additional Funding Details

Eligibility

All prospective athletes must be a citizen of the United States of America (USA) or otherwise expect to be eligible to represent the USA at the Olympic Games.

Funding Discretion

Funding Guidelines are not an agreement to pay out grants. They are included for informational purposes. Actual awards may be greater or lesser depending on (1) the number of athletes in that class with qualifying results, (2) career results including prior World Championships, Olympic Trials, Olympic Games and other events, (3) continuity of teammates in double-handed classes, (4) relative strength of qualifying results in different classes, (5) specific or extenuating circumstances including but not limited to illness or injury, and (6) commitment to the athlete/team’s KPIs and training plan.

If an athlete/team who has previously achieved DAS funding is not able to attend the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 due to extraordinary circumstances, DAS may be awarded to that team/athlete in 2019, pending approval by the USOC and OSC. If awarded on a discretionary basis, the funding level (A1-A2) will also be determined by the USOC and OSC.

Medical Absence

Athletes who are unable to compete in a given year due to a medical condition (i.e. pregnancy, broken bone, surgical procedure, etc.) may be considered for funding in the next year based on a grade achieved prior to the medical absence. The OSC will consider the situation and make a recommendation to the USOC for final decision, as it does with all USOC funding decisions.

Non-Medical Absence

Athletes may request consideration from the OSC for deferral of funding when away from competition for non-medical reasons (such as a one-year or multi-year rest following the Olympic Games). The OSC will consider the situation and make a recommendation to the USOC for final decision, as it does with all USOC funding decisions.

Athletes requesting deferral must supply the following information, and shall be aware of the following conditions:

  1. The level of past performance required to be considered for deferral of funding for non-medical reasons is:
    1. An Olympic medalist from the most recent Games; or
    2. A podium finisher at the most recent class Worlds; or
    3. Multiple top 10 finishes at major events (i.e. Sailing World Cup events, World Championships, Continental Championships) from the prior quad.
  1. KPIs must be completed and submitted to the COS for review and shall include an update on current physical fitness and future fitness plans, a complete training schedule detailing the number of training days and regatta days that are scheduled, and an explanation of crew composition. Preference will be given to continuity of crew composition.
  1. If time away exceeds more than one year from the conclusion of the most recent Olympic Games, athletes shall be aware of the following:
    1. A greater level of commitment must be demonstrated in the KPIs when submitted for consideration.
    2. An athlete may receive reduced funding in the initial year, but then will be given the same opportunities as all other athletes for funding in subsequent years.

Split-up of Teams and Continued Funding

Both members of double-handed teams that change partners during 2019 may be allowed to continue to receive current year funding with new partners  at the discretion of the OSC and USOC. Applications should be submitted to the COS and will be considered based on the plan and possibility for success with the new partner.

Changing Events

Athletes who switch from one Olympic Class event to another may be allowed to continue to receive their funding at the discretion of the OSC, and with the approval of the USOC. Athletes may apply to have that grade transferred to another class in which they will begin training in for the 2020 Games. Applications will be considered based on the plan and possibility for success in the new class, and should be submitted to the COS.

Payment Schedule

Athletes who achieved A2 status will receive $8,750 per quarter to be distributed the first week of March, first week of June, second week of September and first week of December.

Podium Performance Bonuses

2019 Podium Performance Bonuses will be awarded based on results at the following regattas:

  • 2019 World Cup Series Miami | January 27-February 3, 2019 | Miami, Florida, USA
  • 2019 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta | March 29-April 6, 2019 | Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  • 2019 Class European Championships
    • RS:X M&W | April 7-13, 2019 | Palma de Mallorca, Spain
    • 470 M&W | May 2-10, 2019 | San Remo, Italy
    • Finn | May 9-17, 2019 | Athens, Greece
    • 49er, 49er FX & Nacra 17 | May 13-19 | Weymouth, United Kingdom
    • Laser & Laser Radial | May 18-25, 2019 | Porto, Portugal
  • 2019 Hyères Regatta or 2019 World Cup Series Genoa, determined by class as outlined below:
    • World Cup Series Genoa | April 15-21, 2019 | Genoa, Italy
      • Finn
      • Nacra 17
      • 470 M&W
      • 49er
      • 49er FX
      • RS:X M&W
    • Hyères Regatta | April 27-May 4, 2019 | Hyères, France
      • Laser
      • Laser Radial

If athlete/team places in the top three at any of these regattas, athlete/team will receive a bonus payment (up to maximum of $19,000). In double-handed classes, bonuses are awarded per athlete, not per team:

  • 1st podium result - $2,000
  • 2nd podium result - $7,000
  • 3rd podium result - $10,000

Operation Gold

The 2019 Operation Gold qualifying events are Class World Championships:

  • Laser | Sakaiminati City, Japan | 1-9 July 2019
  • Laser Radial | Sakaiminati City, Japan | 16-24 July
  • 470 Men & Women | Enoshima, Japan | 2-9 August 2019
  • RS:X Men & Women | Torbole, Italy | 22-28 September 2019
  • 49er / 49erFX | Auckland, New Zealand | 29 November - 8 December 2019
  • Nacra 17 | Auckland, New Zealand | 29 November - 8 December 2019
  • Finn | Melbourne, Australia | 13-21 December 2019

In an Olympic Games year, teams and individuals must place in the top-three at the Olympic Games to qualify for Operation Gold Awards.

In non-Olympic Games years, Operation Gold Awards are limited to one award per athlete in a program year; athletes who qualify for more than one award automatically receive the higher award. Individuals must finish in one of the top eight places. For purposes of Operation Gold, a team is defined as three or more athletes (pairs are awarded at the same rate as individual athletes).

The Operation Gold Award payment schedule (for 3rd year of Quad) is below:

  • 1st place - $7,500
  • 2nd - $6,250
  • 3rd - $5,000
  • 4th - $4,375
  • 5th - $3,750
  • 6th - $3,750
  • 7th - $2,500
  • 8th - $2,500