- Breiana Whitehead competes in her first Olympic Games
- Aussie, 24, chases gold in dangerous event
- Whitehead always carries a knife with him when he competes
Australian Olympic star Breiana Whitehead carries a knife for her own safety while competing in a form of sailing so fast it’s downright dangerous.
Whitehead, 24, was taught to sail by her father when she was a toddler and began competing at age 10.
She is competing in her first Games and since the kitesurfer can reach speeds of 80 km/h in strong winds, a knife is an indispensable part of her equipment.
The device is invaluable if the emergency cable release fails when she is pulled too high into the air, or if the cables connecting her to the sail catch around her neck.
“This is such a cool sport,” said Whitehead, who also wears a helmet to prevent concussions and a safety vest in case she comes into contact with the dangerous foil during a crash.
‘You still have the wind and you can hear the waves. It’s like you’re floating. It feels pretty cool.
“That’s why I do it, for that special feeling.”
And don’t think Whitehead is in Paris just to compete as an athlete at the Olympics. She just wants to be on the podium.
Meet Breiana Whitehead, the Australian Olympic sailor who carries a knife for her own safety while competing.
Whitehead, 24, was introduced to the sport by her father when she was a toddler – and began competing at just 10 years old
Since the Australian kitesurfer can reach speeds of 80 km/h when swept along by strong winds, a knife is an essential part of her equipment
The Townsville-born star recently made her name to the world after winning the Women’s Formula Kite event at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, a prestigious international sailing regatta in Mallorca, Spain.
Whitehead followed this up with a fifth place at the 2024 Formula Kite World Championship in France.
She secured a quota place for the 2024 Paris Olympics after finishing eleventh at the Sailing World Championships in the Netherlands last August.
In addition to his work as a competition director, Whitehead has a degree in mechanical engineering.
Formula Kite is a new sailing class introduced to the Paris Olympic program. The class has become increasingly popular with fans due to the high speeds that competitors can reach.
Whitehead will be in the water in Marseille from 8.23pm (AEST) on Tuesday evening and is seen by top judges as a real contender for a medal.