Aging Well!

Paul Foerster and Kevin Burnham did something incredible when they won the Gold Medal in the 470 class at The Olympics. With three previous Olympic medals between them, getting the Gold this time at age 41 for Paul and 48 for Kevin is quite impressive. Here's what they had to say about their accomplishment. Enjoy.

Fantastic effort in Athens to you both. We saw the emotional win and heard that one of you was yelling “Show me the Gold, show me the Gold?” when you were inches from the finish. Was that a little Jerry Maguire inspired moment? What were your thoughts at that moment?

As “older” Americans racing in the small, tight 470s, what were some of the advantages – clearly experience – but what else have you learned in the long years of racing in this fleet?

F/B
Our experience of having been there definitely helped. You have to keep things in perspective and not get hung up with it being the OLYMPICS. The 470 fleet was very competitive. I truly believed that 20 of the 27 entrants could medal. You need to remember that you are just sailing another regatta.

What do you think American athletes have to do to reach Olympic Gold in Sailing? What about the depth of the 470 class. Who do you see coming along to fill the ranks of Olympic contenders?

F/B
The class has gotten so professional. Most teams are sailing full time and are fully sponsored. It will be necessary for any young teams to live in Europe and do the whole circuit. They will have to do a four year campaign to have a good chance of winning a medal in 2008. I see Mikee Anderson coming into the international scene for the 2008 campaign and making a mark. David Hughes and Mikee came to Athens to train with us before the Games. They won a bunch of practice races against the teams that sailed in the Games. Mark Ivey is going to be doing another campaign and will need to do a serious four year campaign to medal. I am not sure who is coming up from the college ranks.

How tough is it for Americans to put together an Olympic campaign and stay the course as you two have. What are the professional rewards and the personal sacrifices? Or, are you just in it for the money.

F/B
It is difficult to do a campaign. Being away from the people you love and family, the financial burden is huge. The bottom line is having the right contact to help you do it. It is a sacrifice and the reward was winning the gold. I can say that the experience of being in the games is what keeps driving me. We were not in it for the money.

What are your professional aspirations following such a momentous Olympic victory. What is next on the agenda for you both. More Olympics, and more 470 sailing or are you moving on to other opportunities?

F/B
I would like to do another campaign. I am trying to find a sponsor who will fund a four year campaign.

What were some of the most memorable moments of your long Olympic sailing career and if given the choice of doing it again, what might you do differently and what would you never change?

F/B
Most memorable experience was the last race in Barcelona. We were the only ones besides the Spanish who could win the gold medal going into the last race. My good friend, Jordi Calafat was the helmsman for the Spanish 470 team. Morgan and I had trained with Jordi and Kiki before the games. On the morning of the last race Morgan came up to me at the boat and asked “ has Jordi walked by yet?” I replied no and he proceeded to ask me to talk to Jordi. He asked me to tell Jordi, not to tale us before the start, that we were happy to have the silver medal and he the gold. I did this when Jordi walked by and his reply was” I am coming after you. You are too fast”. He came after us before the start. I would not change my approach to sailing in the games at all.

What do you think about the next choice for the sailing portion of the Olympics? The next venue in China is hundreds of miles away from the main Olympic action. How important is to you as an athlete to be a part of the whole Olympic experience and what does it say about the sport of sailing that event will be far from the maddening crowd?

F/B
I had that experience in 1996 and it was not nearly as much fun as Barcelona and Athens.

For young Olympic hopefuls, what would you tell someone when they are just starting out in this sailing/competitive life. Would you tell them today that it could lead to a rewarding professional career or that it is the pure thrill of winning Olympic Gold that makes it all worth it?

F/B
The reward of winning an Olympic medal is well worth it.

How would you compare sailing in North America to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa? Where do we rate as Americans as far as what we are doing to encourage and promote Olympic bound sailors?

F/B
To sail a 470 you HAVE to go to Europe for competition. There is no way around it. That is why funding is so necessary. Australia hosts great regattas in our winter season and many teams go there from all over. New Zealand has great venues to host regattas. I have not been to South Africa yet and look forward to going there.