Yachting: Mental toughness needed by youngest Olympian

Young sailor Jo Aleh, who is seen as a medal prospect for the Beijing Olympics, says the mental side of her sport is something she wants to work on.

Aleh, 19, is the youngest of the nine members of Yachting New Zealand's new Olympic squad, which was named yesterday.

The Aucklander sails a Laser Radial, a class which will replace the Europe dinghy in the 2008 Games.

Aleh's results over the past two seasons include a silver medal at the youth world championship in Poland last year and a ninth at the European championship in June.

Her last competition was the world championship in Brazil last week, where she finished 21st in a fleet of 76.

She wasn't happy with her performance in what she described as "a bad regatta" for her.

"It was my first Olympic class worlds and I need more experience at that level," she said.

"My techniques and speed are fine. It's just what goes on in your head, being able to keep it together and being confident in decisions on the course. That will improve after lots of racing."

In the squad, Aleh will get to rub shoulders with the likes of former Olympic boardsailing medallists Barbara Kendall, Bruce Kendall and Aaron McIntosh.

Barbara Kendall, who has the full complement of a gold, a silver and a bronze medal, is mounting a fifth Olympic campaign.

Brother Bruce, also a former Olympic champion, and McIntosh are teaming up in a Tornado catamaran in their bid to be in Beijing.

"It's full of people who have done so much already," Aleh said of the squad.

"I'm just excited to be in there with them and to have the chance to learn from them."

She was also upbeat about the fact that the Laser Radial would make its Olympic debut in Beijing.

"It means it's all fresh," she said.

"It's not the same people who have been sailing the same class for 10 years. It gives a whole lot of new faces the chance to prove themselves."

The others in the squad are Andrew Murdoch (Laser); Dan Slater (Finn); and Sharon Ferris, Raynor Smeal and Ashley Holtum (Yngling).

In the past, YNZ has supported a larger group of elite sailors in its sailing academy.

YNZ said the academy would continue, but competitors who had demonstrated medal potential had been chosen for the squad, which would be overseen by Olympic director Rod Davis.

Among criteria for inclusion was a top-10 finish in a world regatta or a top-eight placing in a European championship.

"That's just to get in, so that's as tough a squad as anybody has put together in any sport," Davis said.

Adopting an Olympic squad is among changes YNZ has made since a disappointing Athens Games last year, when New Zealand sailors failed to bring home a medal for the first time in six Olympics.

"The best coaches available will work with our sailors together with me as Olympic director to correct weaknesses," Davis said said.

"This will be a three-season build-up to the final goal -- Olympic medals."

Despite the lack of return in Athens, yachting remains New Zealand most successful Olympic sport, with a total of 15 medals since 1956.

- NZPA