Matt Wearn, the double Olympic gold medallist, has confirmed his campaign for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. After 15 months away from competition, he's eager to achieve an unprecedented feat: winning three consecutive gold medals in the Men's Dinghy class.
“I’ll be continuing to do an LA campaign, trying to go to a third Olympics and ultimately do the three-peat,” Wearn stated. His return follows a challenging cycle leading up to the Paris 2024 Games, where he successfully defended his title and became the first sailor to earn back-to-back Olympic golds in the ILCA7 class.
Wearn explained the difference he feels now compared to previous campaigns. “I think I’ve proven the first time wasn’t a fluke… hopefully in a bit more of a relaxed environment,” he said.
The past Olympic cycle was particularly tough for Wearn due to a battle with long-COVID, which interrupted his training. “It felt like it was all against the clock the whole time,” he admitted.
To regain his focus, Wearn took a break, allowing himself time to recharge. “It’s been super important to have this time off,” he noted. He embraced various sailing roles, competing in larger boats and coaching younger sailors at the ILCA World Championships.
“I started getting itchy feet,” he laughed, recognising the joy he found in returning to ILCA sailing.
At 30 years old, Wearn now stands as a senior figure in the Australian ILCA7 squad. He acknowledges the rise of new talent in the class, stating, “We’ve got quite a new generation of sailors coming through, and the level is really high.”
Wearn views the competition as a positive challenge, reflecting on his past rivalries as motivating experiences.
