Q&A with Olympic Sailer Anna Tunnicliffe

Anna Tunnicliffe has grown to be a well known and highly classed sailor, winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for Women’s Laser Radial class, helping to bring 4 National Championships to Old Dominion University as well as competing in Cross-Country, Swimming and Track at varsity level in high school.

When starting at ODU decisions had to be made as to whether pursue sailing or run track, the final decision was to continue sailing and once at ODU Anna participated in ICSA Women’s National Championship, three ICSA Women’s Singlehanded Championships and was a member of the Monarchs’ Varsity Sailing Team.

After graduating ODU Anna participating in the 2007 US Sailing Olympic Selection Trials, where she secured a sport for the 2008 Olympics, which she subsequently won a Gold medal. Anna is now ranked 1^st in the world for Women’s Singlehanded Dinghy.

What was is that made you choose to do sailing instead of track in high school? 

I had a dream of going to the Olympics in sailing, so I just felt like that was the path I had to follow.  I was more advanced in my sailing than I was in my running, and knew that I could be quite successful if I put my mind to it.

During your time at university did you manage to balance your sailing with work and being a student? Do you feel you got the whole student experience from university?

i was very busy during my university years.  Along with a full course load every semester, I worked a part time job at the athletic gym, travelled every weekend from my sophomore year onwards, and was in the school orchestra and music ensembles.  It was a lot of work to keep it all in balance, but I enjoy being busy, so it worked out ok for me.  I never experienced the fraternity/sorority side of school, but I don’t feel like I missed out on that.  I had my opportunities to party, but being busy, kept me away from that most of the time, which was a good thing.  I thoroughly enjoyed my college years.

What were your thoughts during your first race?

What has been your greatest race?

I’m not sure I can narrow it down to just one race.  a sailing regatta is a series of races over a 5-6 day period.  I have had a couple of great events.  The first one that comes to mind is me telling my coach during college singlehanded nationals that I was going to win every race that day, and I won all 7 of them.  The next one is obviously the Olympic Games, and just recently I competed in a regatta in France and won in very difficult conditions after climbing back from a 15 point deficit.

What has been your greatest victory?

I think winning the Olympic Gold Medal is my greatest victory.  It is every athletes dream, and to have accomplished it is amazing. 

How do you feel about all the travelling you do for your sailing? Where is the greatest place you have been and why?

The travelling takes a lot out of you, but I enjoy it.  My husband, Brad Funk, sails in the mens division of what I do, so I get to travel with him almost all the time.    Also, most of my friends are friends that I sail against at each event, so when I’m home, I don’t get to see them, so being on the road allows me to hangout with my friends. 

The best place I have been to sail is Cabarete in the Dominican Republic.  It is great weather almost all the time, warm and windy.  We sail off a beach…it’s the perfect life.

If you could go back and make any different decisions, to do with sailing, track or schooling would you?

I woulndn’t change anything.  I believe that everything happens for a reason.  Every event that has happened in my life so far, whether it be good or bad, has gotten me to where I am today.  If I went back to change something, who knows, I may not have a Gold medal.

If you could describe your experience with sailing with one word what would it be?

Freedom

What would you say to young girls who want to get into sailing?

Sail for fun, winning is an added bonus!!