Stu and Graham qualified for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team at the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, in Perth, Australia
In this edition of the Meet the Team series, we introduce Stuart McNay (Beverly Yacht Club/New York Yacht Club) and Graham Biehl (San Diego Yacht Club). The duo, ranked #5 in the world rankings, teamed up in 2005 and have been campaigning ever since. They placed 1st in 2011 Sail Melbourne (Australia), an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup event. Both McNay, 30, and Biehl, 25, are 2008 Olympians.
Describe your “Olympic Moment” – that first time you realized you wanted to compete at the Games?
Graham Biehl: I remember staring at a Los Angeles Olympics (1984) poster with the classes of boats at Mission Bay Yacht Club every day. I eyed the 470 and funny enough I’m in it now.
What do you consider your greatest achievement so far?
Stu McNay: Qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games
What would winning an Olympic medal mean to you?
Stu McNay: It would be the culmination of years of work. This has been my goal since finishing college and I have been working very hard to achieve it.
What are you known for on and off the water?
Graham Biehl: My serious approach to my sailing
What do you want the world to know about sailing?
Graham Biehl: It’s not “sit back and sip cocktails.”
To get to the podium it takes…
Graham Biehl: Dedication
Stu McNay: Determination and smart preparation. Many people can be excellent at sailing, but our goal is to be excellent during the Olympic week. Our preparation is geared towards excellence during the first week of August, 2012.
Do you have any pets?
Graham Biehl: Marley, 11 year old pit bull/mutt
What smartphone app do you use the most?
Stu McNay: Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends
