Eise Rechichi - 470 - Women's Two-Person Dinghy - Helm
Olympic Test Event Gold 2007 & World Championship Bronze 2008
ISAF World Ranked 9th
Results:
2007 Olympic Test Event – Gold
2007 Kiel Week (ISAF Grade 1) – Silver
2007 470 Women’s European Championships - Bronze
2008 Women’s 470 World Championship - Bronze
Facts About Elise:
DOB: 11th January 1986
Birthplace: Perth, WA
Yacht Club/s: Royal Perth Yacht Club, Fremantle Sailing Club, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club
Started sailing at: 7 in an Optimist
Started competing: age 8
First event competed in: Optimist States 1995
First international event:"Tamastukuri International regatta in Japan in Optimists when I was just 11 and traveled there myself"
First event ever won: 1997 Australian Optimist National Championships - 1st Women
Best Sporting Achievement: Bronze at the 2008 470 Women's World Championships & 2007 Olympic Test Event Gold
Job/Business/Study: Part way through study to be commercial pilot, will complete after games
Sporting Relatives: Richard Evans. International Cricket Test Umpire. Danny Rechichi – Americas Cup Sailor
Before I compete I always: Take a few deep breaths and I don’t talk much.
Ambitions: To win a medal at the Olympics, and be an Airline Pilot… And be happy!
Superstitions: Bananas are very bad luck on boats!!
Awards:
2005 Young Australian Team of the Year – Australian Sport Awards
2004 Western Australian Team of the Year
2004 Western Australian Junior Sport Star of the Year
2008 Australian Female Sailor of the Year
Elise's Story:
Initially, the West Australian looked like having a future in gymnastics, but her parents especially her dad who is a sailor, weren’t so enthusiastic. She didn’t like sailing at first, “I was seven and my Dad made me sail in an Optimist. I hated it. Because I was so small, I was frightened that I would float down the Swan River and nobody would find me.”
Racing for the first time, she was quite a natural, but had trouble finding the marks, “At that time the marks had names, and no one ever told me them”. That changed, and soon she was beating her seniors - boys included. “That’s when I started to enjoy it.”
Elise went on to represent at the 1995 Optimist States and then the 1996 Nationals, at which she was top placed girl and finished top three overall, earning her a trip in 1997 to race in Japan. “It was the first time I went overseas and I loved it – I was only 11, so that was what gave me the initial motivation to really work hard.”
Continuing in the Optimist until 2000, winning the girls section that year, a short stint in Europe followed. Then came the Westsail program where, she says, “I chewed Erik Stibbe’s (camp coach) ear off. I’ve never been scared of asking lots of questions, and that is something that increases your rate of learning exponentially.”
Representing at the 2002 Youth Words in the 29er skiff, Elise finished second, missing Gold by one point. A switch to the 420 in 2003 provided a Gold medal at the Youth Worlds and she was on her way to the top. Tessa Parkinson joined Elise as crew just three months prior to the 2004 420 World Championships. They won both Open and Youth titles in the Women’s – on her 18th birthday.
“Tessa and I get on well but most importantly we make a great team. 2004 was a great year being at the top of youth sailing in the world – but more important was the chance to compete in the Olympic year against the top competition. It was very tough competing at such a high level – but that makes you realize the level you have to achieve."
Why are the Olympics important? “There are so many different ways to be successful. But sport is at the heart of Australia’s culture, so to be at the top, and to represent your country at the Olympics is such a unique achievement. At this stage we are on track to go to Beijing. The last year has thrown us many obstacles, but it’s the way you choose to handle them that will determine the outcome. We have to continue working hard because it’s not just about going to the Olympics, it’s about knowing you have given yourself every possible chance to do well,” she says.
However, while the Olympics and a medal mean a lot, after her competitive sailing is over Elise aims to be an airline pilot. “I am studying to be a commercial pilot. I have seven commercial theory exams to do, and I have done one, but I just need to put in the work. I also would love to sail in the America’s Cup. But being 5 foot nothing and 50kg…. well I suppose I could be a grinder.”
She is an admirer of Roger Federer: “I like his demeanour. It appears he has a balanced perspective both on and off the court.” Victor Kovalenko, Denis Jones, Belinda Stowell and Peter Gilmour have been strong sailing influences.
While she and Tessa are the youngest members of the team, Elise is not intimidated: “When you look at people like Colin Beashel and Nicky Bethwaite, you really appreciate that sailing is not limited by age, but rather rewarded with experience. Both of us do value our education and careers in the future, but as long as we love sailing and competing we will keep going.”
