Malcolm Page

Malcolm remembers being plonked into a boat tied to his grandparents wharf on the Lane Cove River as a five year old. “I balled my eyes out – I hated every minute of it!”

Over 20 years later the Sydney sailor and his skipper Nathan Wilmot have won four world titles, have represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Games and won many awards, the latest being named 2005 AIS Team of the Year.

By age eight Malcolm had got over his fear of sailing and began racing Manly Juniors along with his two older brothers, where many elite sailors cut their teeth.

Committed to winning an Olympic medal he says: “I love the challenge, commitment and achieving. It is the top echelon of our sport from a dinghy angle and a pretty good thing to do for your country.”

Things did not pan out in Athens. As 2004 world champions the two were expected to medal but finished 12th. “Our biggest issue was psychology. It was our first Olympics and I don’t think we appreciated what it was. We also made little errors that compounded and let it slip away. I think we’ve overcome that, which is why we dominated at the 2005 Worlds.”

With two crews vying for the one Olympic place in 2008, Malcolm says the competition will toughen both crews. “It’s great to see Mat and Nick step up it will keep us honest and vice versa. Whoever of us goes will certainly be better than we were four years ago.”

It was the insightful Victor who first put he and Nathan together. It worked well and the two tried for their first Olympic selection in 2000 but missed out.

“When I was very young I wanted to achieve two things – a world championship and Olympic representation. Right now everything is about winning the gold medal – we have achieved everything else in this class.”

A 420 World title and a cupboard full of State, National, European and World titles in the 470 including back to back 470 Worlds wins with Nathan (the first for 12 years) attest to that statement. Malcolm says there are a few more Olympic Games left in him.

And while life looks rosy Malcolm has always suffered back problems but won’t let it stop him. “My right leg is one centimeter longer than the left and it gives me grief. I don’t sleep very well either – my brain is always in overdrive” he says just stating facts.

Can he see that gold medal on the mantelpiece? “Yes. I wouldn’t be into my third Olympic campaign if I couldn’t.”

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