Grant Recipients | Gabrielle King

	Name: Gabrielle King
	DOB: 26/07/90
	Hometown: Maclean NSW
	Pursuit: Sailing

Gabrielle is currently one of Australia’s most successful youth sailors. In 2007 she won Gold at the Volvo ISAF World Youth Championships in the Girl’s one person dinghy event in Canada and successfully defended her title at Aarhus, Denmark in July 2008. Gabrielle also won the Girl’s Laser Radial Youth World title in New Zealand in February 2008. In recognition of Gabrielle’s achievements she was named the Youth Sailor of the Year at the prestigious Yachting Australia Annual Awards. Gabrielle is now moving into Open competition and quotes “I am no longer a youth!” and am looking at qualifying for the Olympics.

WHEN DID YOU START?
I started sailing at the age of 10. I was 13 at my first national titles.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT AND BIGGEST ACHIEVMENT?
The highlight would have to be winning my first youth worlds. It was something I had been focused on doing for 3 years, so to see it finally happen was literally a dream come true. Then having the opportunity to defend the title, and do so succesfully was an amazing experience.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
My dream is to win a gold medal at the Olympic games.

WHO OR WHAT HAVE INSPIRED YOU?
-

WHO'S YOUR HERO?
The two people who I most aspire to be like in my sport are Sarah Blanck (2 x Olympian) and Lyndall Patterson (multiple Masters World Champion). Both have been so supportive of me over the years and have qualities I can only hope to emulate. Sarah is an amazing sailor, a great sport, and has included me in much of her domestic training, which as a youth was amazing for my development. Lyndall is a close family friend who has watched my development and been so positive and supportive the entire time. She has been competing for many years and still has such a love for the sport that everyone who has the privilege of sailing against her is aware of her passion.

ANY MORE SPECIAL TALENTS?
Nothing of interest.

FAVOURITE MUSIC?
I don't really do favourites.

FAVOURITE MOVIE?
See 6

FAVOURITE BOOK?
-

FAVOURITE TV SHOW?
Don't do favourites, and I don't really watch TV.

FAVOURITE FOOD?
I love Mango and Lychee. Also, my mums Roast Chicken which she normally cooks for me when I visit home.

HOW THE GRANT WILL HELP YOU/HOW WILL YOU USE THE MONEY?
The grant will help my finance my upcoming trip to Europe. As I am moving into open competition (I am no longer a youth) and am looking at qualifying for the Olympics, I have to go to Europe and compete in international grade events. Obviouly this has considerable costs associated with it, from airfares to accomodation, freight of the boat and entry fees. The grant will go towards offsetting some of these costs.

LAST WORDS?
Everything is possible, the impossible just takes a bit longer.

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