Rob Murray is hoping to qualify for 2024 Olympics

A Preston man is training for the 2024 Olympics, and is raising money to do so.

Rob Murray, 24, lives in Preston but originally from Northern Ireland, has been sailing for 19 years.

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After competing in the Topper European Championships, Rob went on to represent the country on a world class level all over the UK and Ireland.

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He was selected to travel to Italy for the Topper World Championships and became the first Irish sailor to win a world championship race.

Rob then moved on to the Laser Dinghy, which he currently competes in, and is hoping to secure his place on the British sailing team, which will lead him to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Rob is aiming for a top 50 national tanking by the end of the season this year to hopefully be selected for the team.

Rob Murray said: “It was my granddad that got me into the sport taking me out on his boat then I took some sailing lessons and now I’m here.

“He was my biggest inspiration in pursuing this.

“The Olympics is the ultimate achievement, to go up against the best in the world and like everyone who chases that dream of a gold medal.

“But I’d definitely say Ben Ainslie and Robert Scheidt help light the hunger in my stomach to aim for it because these two people are the best sailors I’ve ever seen and to achieve just a small part of what they’ve achieved would be an honour in itself.”

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Rob is trying to raise money to help him compete in events to ultimately qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and has set up a Go Fund Me page.

Rob continued: “The donations would go towards event costs such as, entry fees, accommodation, help me replace any gear that may get damaged while sailing cause I will always be pushing me and the boat to the limits to get the best performance possible.

“Training is just constant and consistent practice.

“It’s a lot off fitness work in the gym focusing on strength and endurance around the core and legs, these are the main areas of focus, as we sail in very strong winds.

“Upper body fitness is also important in the arms and shoulders, and mental fitness is a crucial part of it as I know from previous experience, when you’re leading a group of talented sailors, you have to focus on body weight position in the boat, sail trim which comes from having controls set right, what the winds doing, shifting, gusting, the water, waves, currents and tides.

“On the water training practices starting, mark rounding, tacking, gibing, boat setup, racing between marks to understand wind patterns, what side of the course is favoured, and what side is biased.”

You can help Rob and make a donation on his fundraising page.

Have you taking part in any sporting events recently? Do you sail? Let us know in the comments below

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