Boardsailing: Legend pulls pin on her glittering career

Barbara Kendall is enthusiastic about the next stage of her life. Photo / Dean Purcell

You can't accuse three-time Olympic boardsailing medallist Barbara Kendall of rushing into decisions.

After pondering her competitive future for nearly two years, New Zealand's sailing legend yesterday announced she was pulling the pin on a glittering career that has spanned a quarter of a century.

"It's probably taken me two years to make up my mind to be honest," Kendall said with her trademark laugh.

"Always after an Olympic campaign you don't want to do another one. I didn't want to retire straight away because I just didn't know if I wanted to continue or not, and it's taken a couple of years to figure it out, but I know I've made the right decision now.

"It feels good, it feels like a bit of a relief actually, because it's quite hard sitting on the fence. So it's nice to make the decision - it helps close doors and open others and your energy just becomes a lot clearer."

Kendall had been seriously contemplating a sixth Olympic campaign in London 2012 - an event that held a great deal of appeal for her, as the windy conditions at the Weymouth venue would have suited her nicely.

Even at 42 she reckons she could have done it too. The problem is though, she doesn't have the desire to compete any more.

"Physically I could have done it, if I really wanted to. But the biggest problem is my brain. I just didn't want to compete anymore, I sort of felt like I was over pushing myself and my heart wasn't in it any more."

One of New Zealand's most decorated Olympians, Kendall's career highlights include gold at the Barcelona Olympics, silver at Atlanta and bronze in Sydney. She has also won three world championship titles, and a further five medals at the worlds.

But the mother-of-two singled out winning gold in Barcelona in 1992 as the obvious highlight. The image of Kendall as a bubbly and effervescent 24-year-old waving wildly as she celebrated on top of the Olympic podium is well entrenched in the hearts of all New Zealanders.

"I didn't realise quite what a highlight it was, because once I'd done it I said 'okay, what's next?'. I never really thought about it. I just moved on to the next thing as quickly as I could.

"But now when I look back I think 'man, that was actually a pretty amazing thing to do'."

While she won't be on the regatta circuit any more, Kendall is just as enthusiastic about the next stage of her life.

Kendall is doing voluntary work with the International Olympic movement. She is on the IOC's Athletes Commission which serves as a consultative body and is the link between active athletes and the IOC. She is also on the IOC's Women and Sport Commission.

Kendall also holds two positions with the Oceania Olympic Committee, as an executive board member and the president of its Athletes Commission.

"I can't believe it - I'm a committee dweller! I drink coffee and eat biscuits," she joked.

"I know it's doing such good things for sport, for all the up-and-coming kids coming through, and aspiring Olympians all around the world.

"I'm acting as a voice for all of them - that's quite a responsibility."

HIGHLIGHTS ON THE WATER

Olympic sailing

* 1992 Barcelona - gold (Lechner Women)
* 1996 Atlanta - silver (Mistral Women)
* 2000 Sydney - bronze Medal (Mistral Women)
* 2004 Athens - fifth (Mistral Women)
* 2008 Beijing - sixth (RS:X Women)

World championship medals

* 3 gold
* 4 silver
* 1 bronze