The Mange Olsson Foundation has announced that Martine Grael is the 2021 winner of the Magnus Olsson Prize. The award is awarded every year to a person who has made an indelible contribution to the world of sailing. Previous winners include Martine’s father, Torben Grael, and later Sir Ben Ainslie, Stan Honey, Santiago Lange, Grant Dalton, Carolijn Brouwer and Peter Burling.
Martine Grael, Brazilian, 30, won the gold medal in the 49erFX at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2020). “My clearest memory with Magnus comes from the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008-2009 when he was the skipper of Ericsson 3 and my father was the skipper of Ericsson 4 – says Martine -. During one of the stopovers, Magnus had taken out some customers and I was able to take a ride on the boat. He was such a nice and optimistic guy that he was able to create a genuine bond with his teammates and the sponsors on board. Of course, I have also heard so many stories about him, and it seems that made everyone feel special. “
With a father who competed and won at the highest levels of the sport, it was natural for Martine to try her hand at sailing. After some youth events in the 420 class, she moved up to the Olympic sailing class in the 470 class, ahead of the London Olympic Games, but failed to qualify for the regatta. “After the disappointment of not qualifying for London, I decided to move to the 49er where I have stayed to date,” says Martine. “I competed on the international circuit in view of the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games. Those were great years: performing in all the test events and winning several podiums at the world championships. After the gold medal in Rio, my 49er teammate Kahena Kunze and I decided we needed a distraction. And since the 14-15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, with the all-female SCA Team making a big impression on me, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to switch to offshore racing ”. In the next edition of the world tour, then, in 2017-2018, Martine became a member of the crew of Team AkzoNobel, the first Brazilian woman to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race.
“I learned so much on board, not only about sailing but also about myself. The Ocean Race pushes you to find new limits. And then I immediately went back to campaigning for what would become my second Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. “ F. P.