Lars Grael, uncle of Martine Grael, Olympic champion alongside Kahena Kunze in the 49er FX class on Tuesday (3), he praised the duo’s achievement, stating that sailing was a sexist sport. He stressed that women had their space only after the Seoul-1988 Olympics, in South Korea.
“Look, I’m very proud. Martine’s grandparents, who are not alive, are very happy to know what she has done, what she is building in sailing. Guys, sailing until very few years ago was a sexist sport. Women’s sailing began in Seoul-1988, and today Brazil is winning medals and it’s fair in women’s sailing. How cool, a story. They are generating international admiration for their trajectory, their determination and their coolness,” stated Lars, during the broadcast. on Rede Globo.
“This medal shows that women’s sailing in Brazil is capable, yes. It’s enough for the girls to find a good partner, a good partnership. We have girls there. Our last medal opened the horizon, and that’s what we want. We want to inspire and bring this female candle as a legacy. I hope this medal will bring more girls to our candle”, asked Kahena, in an interview with SporTV.
The other female achievement in sailing, in addition to the gold medals by Martine and Kahena, was the bronze in Beijing-2008, in the Star class, with Fernanda Oliveira and Isabel Swan, in the 470 class.
Lars won two bronze medals in the Tornado class – Seoul-1988 and Atlanta-1996. His brother and father of Martine, Torben Grael, was gold in Atlanta-1996 and Athens-2004, in Star, silver in Los Angeles-1984, in Soling, and bronze in Seoul-1988 and Sydney-2000, also in Star.
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