The performances shown by the sailing team in Beijing were one of the highlights of a brilliant summer for Team GB, which came as no surprise to Bryony.
“I certainly knew the potential of the British Sailing Team, which has been in the top three best performing sports for the last three Olympic Games, alongside rowing and cycling. This summer’s performance was the best sailing team result in 100 years. In terms of athlete potential, we were very close to winning more medals.
“The sailing venue was in Qingdao and the marina was built on a massive scale. The “Sailing City,” as it came to be named, was so well presented and the Chinese were very welcoming.”
It was a family camping holiday in France at the age of nine where Bryony fell in love with windsurfing. Since then, her life has been lived on the board.
“I had the opportunity to try it out on a camping holiday and I got hooked. Every summer holiday all I wanted to do was windsurf, and it was lucky that my parents and sister also enjoyed sailing and windsurfing. My parents bought some gear when I was aged 14 so we could continue our hobby back home. But I soon got introduced to racing as I loved the competition, and we got some second hand racing equipment.”
Bryony’s life has always revolved around windsurfing. Like most full-time sports professionals, her education has had to be sacrificed in order for her to reach her maximum potential. Despite a year studying architecture at Cardiff, her commitment to windsurfing remains strong.
“I have been full time since summer 2001, age 18, with a long break to study at Cardiff during 2004/05. This could not have been possible without the support of my parents, who let me take three years out of education to travel to all the competitions around the world, even though they saw my academic education as vital.
“The decision to leave Cardiff and campaign in a brand new windsurfing class was 50/50 and quite a gamble, although Cardiff supported my choice and said I could return to the course. This gave me great confidence that I had two optional pathways and I could fully commit to windsurfing with no regret.”
Unsurprisingly, for a windsurfing enthusiast, Bryony joined the windsurfing society at Cardiff. Although her time spent there was short, she holds many memories of the society, which she says is perfect for any newcomers to the sport.
“Windsurfing is very popular at Cardiff Uni and they are a great crowd to party with, even if you are not a windsurfing enthusiast! So hang out with them, see if you can borrow, beg or steal some kit to try out or alternatively the second hand market is booming so it’s easy to pick up some bargains.
“My advice is that the modern kit is now tailored for the beginner with big stable, padded boards and easy to handle sails, then it’s simple to progress from there onto something a bit smaller and faster”
As you would expect for an Olympian, Bryony undertakes an intense fitness regime, with most of her time devoted to physical conditioning both in and out of the gym.
“I do a lot of road cycling and running for fitness. I try to do as much of my training out-doors, rather than in the gym, so I can get in more hours as the time seems to go by quicker. I also try to train with a group to make it more fun.
“I tend to windsurf in the afternoons with a training partner and my coach, unless I train in a group. My sport requires a lot of traveling around Europe during the summer, so I do not have a steady routine, as I have to settle in various locations traveling with my windsurfing and bike.”
Throughout her full-time career, Bryony has competed in a number of tournaments around the world. Having reached the heights of a bronze medal at what is arguably the most prestigious sporting scene, there is now the potential for windsurfing to reach more people in time for London 2012.
“There was more UK media attention on the windsurfers for 2008 following Nick Dempsey’s bronze medal in 2004, and my win at the test event in 2007. Both of us clearly had the potential to medal.
“With media attention building for 2012, improving technology with cameras, GPS, interactive TV and Internet, I have no doubt that windsurfing will get great coverage. It is seen as one of the coolest sports at the Games, alongside BMX and snowboarding, and it’s up to the windsurfing organisations to push it into the limelight as much as possible”
Team GB’s success in Beijing has given the nation an expectation that both the spectacle of London 2012, and the achievements of our athletes, will better those of Beijing. Bryony’s belief is that London will be a more than fitting host for the greatest sporting show on Earth.
“London 2012 will be a better experience for the spectator. It is a very popular city for tourists and visitors will have plenty to do if they are not able to attend a sporting arena every day. I think the UK will offer a very genuine interest in supporting their home-grown athletes.”
And on a more personal note, Bryony is keen to improve upon her success in the Far East, when the Games arrive in London in four years time.
“I have a great opportunity to win the gold in my home town. I have sailed and raced there since I was 15 and that venue knowledge is vital.
“I will be 4 years wiser and I am a lot younger than most of my closest competitors, which hands me the fitness advantage, unless they retire before then!
“It is an extremely competitive class and all the women who compete at the Games dedicate their lives to the sport, so I will work extremely hard to try and dominate the World Cup in these next few years.
“I hope to fulfill my dream of a gold medal and enjoy my life as a windsurfer for as long as I can, maybe through to 2016.”
With Olympic success already behind her, the goal is now for Bryony to become a member of the elite group of Great British Olympic gold medal winners, when the Games are staged in London in 2012.
