Familiar Faces and Rising Talent Named in Australian Sailing Team for 2026
by Lisa Darmanin / Australian Sailing Team 18 Dec 21:20 UTC
Matt Wearn © Down Under Sail
The Australian Sailing Team (AST) for 2026 has been confirmed, bringing together familiar faces and an exciting new wave of athletes as the team builds momentum toward LA 2028.
Sitting at the pinnacle of Australian Sailing's High Performance program is the Australian Sailing Team (AST), supported by the Australian Sailing Squad (AS Squad), which together form the National Squad. Feeding into this structure is the Australian Sailing Futures (ASF) Squad, providing a connected pathway designed to nurture talent, reward progression and deliver sustainable podium success across multiple Olympic cycles.
The 2026 team reflects a blend of proven performers and emerging contenders, with athletes earning selection through consistent international success and the ability to perform under pressure against world class fleets.
Australia's depth in the ILCA 7 continues to shine, with three athletes named to the AST. Leading the way is two-time Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn, joined by World Championship bronze medallist Zac Littlewood and Ethan McAullay, who earned selection following a standout fourth-place finish at the European Championships, highlighting the ongoing strength of this historically successful class for Australia.
In the ILCA 6, three women have also secured AST status, demonstrating the rising depth of this Australian squad. Tokyo 2020 Olympian Mara Stransky, Paris 2024 Olympian Zoe Thomson, and Elyse Ainsworth, who finished seventh at the World Championships, round out a strong and experienced group.
Australia's foiling talent is also well represented. Olympic silver medallist Grae Morris has re-qualified for the AST in the iQFOiL, while Breiana Whitehead locked in another year on the team after an impressive fifth-place finish at the Formula Kite World Championships.
Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown in the Nacra 17 have progressed from AS Squad to the AST following an outstanding fourth-place result at their World Championships, along with other strong results throughout the year.
Liddell shared, "The AST has long represented the pinnacle of Olympic sailing in Australia. For many years, we looked up to those sailors and were motivated by the goal of one day being part of the AST, so finally achieving that has been incredibly satisfying.
"Each season we continue to build on our progress, recording multiple top five finishes throughout the year. However, we have yet to stand on the podium at a major regatta, and that will be our primary goal for next year."
Underpinning the AST is a strong AS Squad, comprising 20 athletes across seven Olympic classes. The Squad provides critical depth, competition and succession as the program builds toward LA 2028 and beyond. In addition, a further 25 athletes form the Australian Sailing Futures Squad, strengthening the pipeline of emerging talent within the High Performance Pathway.
Iain Brambell, AST High Performance Director reinforced the role of the National and Futures Squads, "The purpose of the National and Futures Squads are to support each individual athlete's competitive development, while providing the collective squad with the best possible opportunity for achieving regular and repeatable medal-winning performances at Olympic Class World Championships and the Olympic Games."
Looking further ahead, Brambell emphasised the long-term vision underpinning the program, "Collectively, the cohort of 2026 categorised athletes are expected to play a central role in sustaining Australia's competitive advantage through to the LA 2028 cycle, while laying foundations that extend well beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
"Their development is not only about immediate results, but about building a high-performance culture capable of delivering sustained podium success across multiple Olympic cycles."
As 2025 draws to a close, the National squads are not taking their foot off the accelerator. With National Championships, targeted training camps and trips to New Zealand for further competition on the horizon, athletes will make full use of the Australian summer as they build momentum toward a bigger and more competitive 2026.