CAPTAIN | 10
THE AUSTRIAN EAGLES
Storm is only when the sheep have no more curls
The collective as the greatest strength
Austria’s team is led by Nacra17 sailor Thomas Zajac at the SSL Gold Cup 2022. The Olympic bronze medalist of Rio 2016 will fill the Afterguard with double Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Christian Binder.
Hagara, who supports Zajac as a coach in his current Olympic campaign, is considered an absolute multihull and speed expert. After his Olympic career, Binder switched to the big boat scene and was able to prove himself in the RC44 class, among others.
The tasks in the cockpit, on the mast, and bow are taken over by Austria’s Olympic presence. Besides the world ranking list firsts in the 49er, Benjamin Bildstein and David Hussl, Zajac also invited the 470er aces Lukas Mähr and Thomas Czajka as well as Finn sailor Moritz Spitzauer into the boat.
The crew is united by an intensive, long-lasting process, which takes place in the most diverse classes and formats is young but rich in experience, success, and mutual appreciation, and is currently aiming for Tokyo 2021. The SSL Gold Cup is another great opportunity for Zajac and his team mates to set the bar high and create surprises with passion and team spirit.
Despite the inland status!
Statistics
THE COUNTRY
- Austria has 105 Sailing Clubs
- We have aprox. 17 500 registered sailors.
- We educate in aprox. 85 sailing shools for lake sailing, but also for river and ocean sailing.
- We have 32 sailable Lakes and Rivers in our Country, but no sea obviously.
- Sailing is the most successful summer-sport in Austria
- Austria got 8 olympic Medals in sailing
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 6 Olympians
- 2 Olympic Medals
- 8 Medallists of World Cups in Olympic Classes
- Youth World- and European Champions
Ssl ranking
- SSL best ranked woman: 39
- SSL best ranked man: 78
- SSL nations ranking: 18
MAIN EVENTS
- Traunsee Woche
- Spring Cup on Lake Neusiedl
9
Austria has won 8 Olympic sailing medals in the Olympic games so far. 8 medals are 1/3 of all medals, Austria has ever won at the summer Olympic games. Next year in Paris Austria is going after the next one, that s why 9 is our lucky number till then.
The captain
Thomas Zajac
Tom, as he is called by his friends, practically inherited sailing as a profession, as his father competed in the Soling sailing boat class at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. At the age of 7 he took part in his first Optimist regatta. He celebrated his first international successes with his former 420 partner Thomas Czajka in the 420 class. Junior European champions, junior world champions, many Austrian championship titles, and top placings in international and Olympic boat regattas were the reward on his ambitious path. The greatest success of his career he achieved together with Tanja Frank at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, with a bronze medal. Since his successful participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with Barabara Matz, he has been the helm of the super maxi yacht EWOL (former Morning Glory) and will lead the SSL Team Austria as captain at the SSL Gold Cup 2022.
THE LEADERS
Lukas Maehr
Lukas Mähr started his sailing career on Lake Constance at the age of eight in the Optimist boat class. After a year in the 420, he switched to the Olympic 470 class, where he won state championship titles and World Cup medals. Lukas Mähr is currently sailing an Olympic campaign for Paris 2024 in the 470 Mixed together with Lara Vadlau.
Benjamin Bildstein
Benjamin Bildstein started in the optimist class when he was ten years old; since then, he has sailed in the 420, 470, and 49er class. Together with his crew David Hussl, he attended the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Apart from that, they also celebrated other results in the 49er class such as worldcup wins, worlds medal ect.
Roman Hagara
Roman Hagara belongs with 2 Olympic gold medals (Sydney and Athens) to the Austrian’s most successful Sportsmans. After his Olympic career in the Tornado, he competed with his former crew Hans Peter Steinacher on the GC32 at the Extreme Sailing Series. Currently, he is working for the Austrian Sailing Federation to help that sailing continues to be the most successful summer sport in Austria.
THE YOUTH FACTOR
Most of our Team is under 30 and we are really looking after the big Austrian youth talents to join the SSL Team Austria in the future. Also, we like to hand over know-how from the older generation who competed at the Olympics, and successfully in many other major events. More than 6 Athletes are under 25. The youngest is Clemens Kueber who will get 21 in 2022.
Confirmed Athletes
Potencial Team Position
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1
BOW
Lukas Haberl
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2
MID-BOW
Tanja Frank
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3
PIT
David Hussl
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4
GRINDER
Moritz Spitzauer
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5
TRIMMER
Barbara Matz
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6
TRIMMER
Thomas Czajka
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7
MAIN TRIMMER
Benjamin Bildstein
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8
HELM
Thomas Zajac
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9
TACTICIAN
Lukas Mähr
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10
CAPTAIN
Thomas Zajac
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11
FLOATER
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1
BOW
Lukas Haberl
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2
MID-BOW
Tanja Frank
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3
PIT
David Hussl
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4
GRINDER
Moritz Spitzauer
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5
TRIMMER
Barbara Matz
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6
TRIMMER
Thomas Czajka
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7
MAIN TRIMMER
Benjamin Bildstein
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8
HELM
Thomas Zajac
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9
TACTICIAN
Lukas Mähr
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10
CAPTAIN
Thomas Zajac
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11
FLOATER
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SQUAD
| Thomas Zajac | Lukas Haberl |
| Thomas Czajka | Benjamin Bildstein |
| Moritz Spitzauer | Barbara Matz |
| Tanja Frank | Lukas Mähr |
| Richard Hilbert | Christian Binder |
| David Hussl | Anna Boustani |
| Keanu Prettner | Ute Wagner |
| Jakob Flachberger | Matthäus Zöchling |
| Clemens Kübber | Martin Neidhardt |