Assorted international talent

Descends upon Lyon, France for today's fan-assisted Olympic swimming pool racing in the Trophée Veolia Environnement

The Trophée Veolia Environnement is taking place in Lyon from Friday 3 October until Sunday 5 October with 16 international champions in the line-up, all from various sailing disciplines. 13 countries will be represented with the home country, France, presenting 4 champions. The only truly international discipline, Olympic sailing, is particularly well represented.

Frenchman Loïck Peyron broke four ribs last week onboard Jean-Luc Nélias's trimaran Belgacom as the pair was training for the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre, which will start in a month's time. Peyron cannot move therefore cannot participate. He is replaced by Frenchman Xavier Rohart who has just won the Star world championship in Cadiz.

From Germany Jochen Krauth was the first man to have broken the sailing speed record by reaching 40 knots (41,89 knots in 90), top speed windsurfing world champion in a professional circuit(96), top speed runner-up windsurfing world champion (91).

Austrailian Mitch Booth was Tornado silver medallist (96) in Atlanta and bronze medallist in Barcelona (92), 9 world championship titles, 7 European titles, 13 national titles, 23 victories in catamarans international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Belgium is represented by Sébastien Godefroid: Finn World Champion and world top ranked (01), Finn European champion and world top ranked as well as leader of the European ranking (98), more than 60 victories in international regattas and championships throughout the world

Denmark's Dorte O. Jensen was Bronze medallist at the Yngling World championship (03), women¹s match racing three-time world champion (99, 2000, 01), four-time J22 ISAF world champion (98 and 99), J22 European Champion (90 and 93), Europe European Champion (93).

From Spain, Monica Azon was Yngling World Champion (03), seven-time Spanish Champion in 420, 470 and Yngling (03, 96, 93, 90, 89), Spain¹s champion in women¹s match racing (99).

Other French sailors taking part are Christine Briand: Double ISAF J 22 World Champion (02 and 94), 470 World champion (83). Four-time winner of Dinghy French Championships. Michel Desjoyeaux: Double winner of the Trophée Clairefontaine (03 and 01), winner of the single handed Route du Rhum (02), winner of the Vendée Globe (01), double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (98 and 92), winner of the French single-handed Championship (98), winner of the double-handed Transat AG2R (92), winner of the double-handed Transat Twostar (90).

Philippe Presti was Double French match-racing champion (01 and 99), Runner-up at the Soling World Championships (2000), double Finn World Champion (96 and 93), winner of the Finn French Championship (94) and Finn world top ranked (93), 11 victories in international regattas and championships throughout the world

Representing the UK is Paul Brotherton: Silver medallist at the pre-Olympic week in Athens in 49er (03), bronze medallist at the 49er world championships (02), 49er European champion (98), winner of the two international pre-Olympic weeks (01), runner-up at 505 world championships (94), seven- time 49er and 470 Great Britain¹s champion.

From Israël comes Yogev Yosef: ISAF 470 world champion (02), runner-up at the World Youth Championship in 470 (01), runner-up at the European Youth World Championships in 470 (99), runner-up at the ISAF world championships in 420 (98), 420 European Champion (97).

Italy's Larissa Nevierov was Gold medallist at the Mediterranean Games and runner-up at the Laser World Championship (01), University World Champion in Laser (01), double Laser World Champion (98 and 96), four-time European Champion (2000, 95, 93, 89), 16 victories at international regattas and championship throughout the world.

From Holland there is Carolijn Brouwer: Runner-up at the Europe World Championship (01), double Europe World Champion (98 and 96), ISAF Sailing Champion of the Year (98), World Champion in Laser Radial (93), Youth World Champion in Laser Radial (91), 27 victories at international regattas and championships throughout the world.

Sweden's Johan Molund wasBronze medallist at the 420 European Championship (03), 470 European Champion (99), runner-up at 470 World Championship (99), silver medallist at the 470 World Championship (98), Europe World Champion (96).

Switzerland's Yvan Bourgnon was Winner of the Formula 18 French championship (03), holder of the record across the channel (01) and holder of the record of the greatest distance covered in 24 hours on a 60ft multihull (635,34 miles in 2000), winner of the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre (97), winner of the single-handed Mini Transat (95).

From Ukraine is Evgeniy Braslavets: Gold medallist in 470 at the Olympic Games in
Atlanta (96), 470 European and World Champion (01), bronze medallist at the 470 World Championship (2000), winner of the 5 pre-Olympic regattas in 470.

Very few of these international assortment of talented sailor have had the chance of racing against each other before. They will all be on an equal footing racing onboard identical monohulls SailingCity (2.75 metres long, 140 kgs, 4.20m mast, 6sqm of sail area) : very powerful racing machines especially built for the Trophée Veolia Environnement sailed on an Olympic pool at the Nautical Centre on the Rhône. The racing arena is a thousand meters square with natural wind conditions reinforced by six giant fans.