Anna Tunnicliffe retires from Olympic sailing

Beijing Laser Radial gold medallist stands down

Anna Tunnicliffe writes: I've always been a believer in the 4 D's to accomplish a goal. Dream, Desire, Dedication, and Discipline. The Desire, Dedication, and the Discipline are what support the Dream and make it come true. Without one or more of these foundations, you can't accomplish the end goal, the Dream.

It is with a sad heart and tears in my eyes, that today I am announcing that I am retiring from Olympic sailing.

I have had a great run over the last 12 years coming away with 1 Olympic Gold Medal, 2 ISAF World Sailor of the Year awards, 2 World Championships, Multiple Podium World Championship finishes, and a lot of World Cup titles.

I have had the best teammates and sponsors and supporters anyone could ask for. I owe a big 'thank you' to US Sailing, US Sailing Team Sperry Top Sider, Carmeuse, Kaenon, Harken, Mclube, and Zhik for being there with me all the way. Also thank you to all the other Sponsors who helped make each of my campaigns a huge success.

It is a very challenging decision, one with which I have been fighting for a while, but I finally decided that it would not be fair to Molly for me to continue without the fire that burns inside. I know the Dedication and the Discipline that is required. I know how the Desire, the fire inside, should feel. But the fire is weak, and despite my efforts to try to re-ignite it, it's not there, telling me it's time to move on.

I love sailing and will never quit the sport. The Olympic Scene takes an incredible amount of energy and time and for the last 12 years I have dedicated every minute of my life to it. But now it's time to move on to other sailing.

Thank you everyone, for your support over the years, for being there and cheering on me and Molly and Debbie. Thank you.

Sail Hard,

Anna
Team Tunnicliffe

Anna leaves this level of the sport as an exceptionally successful Olympic athlete. Along her journey, she amassed two World Championship titles, multiple Worlds podium finishes, a long list of ISAF Sailing World Cup victories, two ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards, and four US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year awards. Above all, she will be remembered as an Olympic Champion. Anna’s gold medal in 2008, which she won in the Laser Radial class off Qingdao, China, is an accomplishment all American sailors can be proud of.

“US Sailing and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider are incredibly proud of Anna’s many accomplishments in the sport. We thank her for being a leader, a loyal teammate, and fierce competitor who has inspired countless youth sailors. We wish Anna the best and look forward to following her future career,” said Josh Adams, Managing Director of US Olympic Sailing.