Selection

US Sailing Team Selection

The US Sailing Team is composed of the nation’s top performing athletes competing in the classes selection for the 2024 Olympic Games. in the selected Olympic classes. These athletes are ranked by their performance and receive tiered support from US Sailing, the sport's national governing body.

Selection

QUALIFICATION FOR THE US SAILING TEAM

To qualify for the US Sailing Team, athletes/teams must meet the requirements below while training and competing in a 2024 Olympic class boat. Athletes/teams will qualify for a specific Tier, Tier 1 or 2, with corresponding levels of US Sailing Team-provided support.   

TIER 1: TOP 10 IN THE WORLD 

To qualify for US Sailing Team Tier 1, athletes/teams must achieve a top 10 overall finish at the 2020 Olympic Games or at either of their class’s two most recent scheduled Class World Championships, if their equipment and event is retained for the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Athletes who qualify for Tier 1 through performance at a World Championship will maintain this Tier status for the next two scheduled World Championships, provided they meet all outlined USST requirements.

TIER 2:

To qualify for US Sailing Team Tier 2, athletes/teams must meet either of the following criteria: 

TOP 20 IN THE WORLD
        • Athletes/teams must achieve a top 20 overall finish and finish within 50% of the fleet at either of their class’s two most recent scheduled Class World Championships, if their equipment and event is retained for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Athletes who qualify for Tier 2 through performance at a World Championship will maintain this Tier status for the next two scheduled World Championships, provided they meet all outlined USST requirements. 

SPECIAL EVENT QUALIFICATION AND/OR DISCRETIONARY SELECTION 
        • Qualify for the 2023 Olympic Test Event and/or the 2023 Pan American Games in an Olympic-class boat [effective as of 9/10/22]; OR 
        • Qualify via discretionary selection, where an athlete will be considered by evaluating the highest probability for podium results based on performance at national and international level regattas within the past four calendar years. Discretionary selection is determined by the Executive Director of US Olympic Sailing, the USST Performance Director, and the USST Head of Operations [effective as of 3/1/23]. 

Athletes who qualify for Tier 2 via Special Event Qualification or Discretionary Selection will only maintain Tier 2 status until December 31, 2023, unless they qualify outright via the 2023 Sailing World Championships. 

QUALIFICATION DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS
  • To be officially named to the USST after qualifying for Tier 1 or Tier 2, athletes must: 
        • Submit a Performance Plan to be reviewed and approved by USST Performance Director 
        • Sign both the 2023 US Sailing Athlete Participation Agreement and the 2023 US Sailing Team Agreement and comply with all obligations detailed therein.
  • Tier Duration and/or Changes 
        • If an athlete/team qualifies for a Tier and subsequently qualifies for a higher Tier at the following World Championship, they will move to the higher Tier beginning the first of the month following the World Championship. 
        • Should a previously qualified athlete/team fail to qualify for Tier 1 or 2 for two consecutive scheduled World Championships, they will drop off the US Sailing Team at the conclusion of the second World Championship. 
        • If an athlete/team’s approved schedule conflicts with a qualifying event, athlete/team may be named to a Tier at the discretion of the Executive Director of US Olympic Sailing, the USST Performance Director, and the USST Head of Operations. 
        • In case of injury, illness, or pregnancy, Tier status may be extended at the discretion of the Executive Director of US Olympic Sailing, the USST Performance Director, and the USST Head of Operations, provided that athlete adheres to the Athlete Injury Protocol and Plan.
  • Team and/or Class Changes: If an athlete/team earns Tier status and then changes partners and/or boat class/equipment, athlete(s) must submit a new Performance Plan and may be appointed to a Tier with a new partner or in a new class at the discretion of the USST Performance Director. This discretionary status is only valid until the next scheduled World Championship. 
  • Athlete Financial Support: US Sailing provides Direct Athlete Funding to all Tier 1 and 2 athletes named to the US Sailing Team, based on their Tier status and an approved Performance Plan.
        • Tier 1 athletes will receive $30,000 annually
        • Tier 2 athletes will receive $15,000 annually
  • Elite Athlete Health Insurance (EAHI): In partnership with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), all athletes who meet the qualification requirements for Tiers 1 and 2 are eligible for the USOPC’s Elite Athlete Health Insurance (EAHI), regardless of USST status.