Until 11 weeks before the Games, the selectors still could not decide between four hot British crews for the 49er slot in Team GBR. They finally plumped for a crew with youthful ambition combined with bitter experience, reports Matthew Sheahan
Olympic profile: Stevie Morrison
How it all started – “I started racing Cadets in Exmouth when I was around 11 years old and raced a lot against Ben. Our first event together was the RS200 Nationals in Paignton in 1996.”
Turning point – “Having done my GCSEs and A-Levels I then went on to work for Speed Sails, where I was building sails during the week and racing on all kinds of boats at the weekends. I did five or six National Championships a season – it was superb. By this stage I was starting to think that sailing and work could go together”
Best/worst quality – “I’d say my best quality is that I’m relaxed, although Ben would say it’s being logical. Sometimes I’m too relaxed, although on the other hand I do tend to think about things too much sometimes”
Hobbies and interests? – “Mountain biking, kite surfing and skiing, but at the moment all of those are out of bounds because of the risk of injury”
How do you relax? – “Apart from doing all the normal family things, I love watching all sport, especially football and tennis”
What picks you up when you’re down? – “I guess I’m lucky that I don’t have to look for very long to see that I really don’t have much to worry about”
Non-sailing ambition – “To stay happy and not to have a proper job”
What’s your plan ‘B’? – “I’m afraid I don’t really have one, but I would love to be involved with the America’s Cup boats. They look superb and I think, as 49er sailors with experience of high performance, we could really bring something to a team”
Position on boat – Helmsman
First class raced – Cadet
Favourite sailing venue – Lake Macquarie, Australia
Favourite boat – 49er
Favourite regatta – Sail For Gold
Current car – VW van
Dream car – Aston Martin
Pet hate – being late
Sporting hero – Kelly Slater, world surfing champion
Personal favourites
Film – Any James Bond film
Band – Oasis
Book – It’s Not About the Bike, by Lance Armstrong
Favourite non sailing item – iPad
iPhone app – BBC Sport
iPod top 3 most played
Don’t look back into the sun – Libertines
Diamonds – Ben Howard
Anything – Oasis