Annalise Murphy faces a three-way trial for Irish selection before she can race for gold at Tokyo 2020. Ireland's Olympic Silver Medallist confirmed her return to the Laser Radial class tonight with 300 days to go to the Olympic Regatta.
The widely expected decision follows last week's announcement that she had quit her 49erFX campaign with Katie Tingle.
Murphy’s return to the class will meet domestic competition from Aoife Hopkins and Aisling Keller who have already qualified Ireland for a place in the Radial discipline as described by Irish Times Sailing Correspondent David O'Brien here.
The three female solo sailors will race in an open trial using a number of international regattas to determine which candidate is nominated to represent the nation in Tokyo.
"I've already been sailing the Radial and feel fresh in the boat and I'm really excited to be back"
The do-or-die series will start in the Spring of 2020 and will use the combined scores from each of three European regattas; Palma in March, the World Cup in Genoa in April and Hyeres Regatta in late April to decide the nomination.
Murphy acknowledged the challenge ahead saying "with trials starting early next year there is a lot of work to get through, however, I've already been sailing the Radial and feel fresh in the boat and I'm really excited to be back"
Irish Sailing Head Coach Rory Fitzpatrick added “Having coached Annalise up to the Rio Olympics it makes her transition into the Laser Radial squad pretty easy. Having Annalise back in the class will raise the standard for everyone”.