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08 Nov 2009

Kevin Burnham (USA) Joins 470 Management Committee

Kevin Burnham (USA), renowed 470 sailor and Olympic Gold Medallist in 2004 and Silver Medallist in 1992, has been co-opted to the 470 Management Committee.

The vacancy on the Management Committee was created with the recent retirement of Marta Weores (HUN) after ten years as a volunteer for the International 470 Class, a member of the 470 Management Committee and past First Vice-President.  Marta and her partner Iain Ainslie (RSA) are expecting their first child in January 2010.

Kevin's primary remit on the Management Committee is to build the relationship with the 470 coaches – and work with the class to develop the coaching clinics.

Stanislav Kassarov, President of the International 470 Class said, “Kevin will bring another dynamic to the Management Committee team. With his many years of experience as an elite competitor, a coach and a sailing administrator – Kevin will be able to make many valuable contributions to the class as we continue to grow the class over the next Olympic quadrennium.”

With no more personal Olympic campaigns in the pipeline, Kevin has turned his focus to coaching and mentoring the next generation of 470 sailors to Olympic success.

Speaking on his new role, Kevin commented "I look forward to continuing my involvement in the 470 class as a member of the Management Committee. The challenges that lie ahead will be welcomed as I serve as a voice for all coaches in making the 470 class the best class in the Olympic Games."

Kevin still has time for personal sailing, although nowadays mainly in keelboats, from Melges 24's to Swan 45's to J-Class racing. Kevin has also logged thousands of offshore racing miles, competing in premier offshore sailing events as the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race, Newport to Bermuda Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race. Kevin is at home guiding any boat around the race course – whether round the cans or across the ocean.
 
Back at the 2004 Olympics, Kevin BURNHAM with helm Paul FOERSTER were the old timers of the men's two person dinghy fleet in Athens, with a combined age of 87 years. They clinched the gold medal after a nerve racking final race – the ultimate prize for the pair who had two silver medals and many years of campaigning between them.

Kevin Burnham's website: www.kevinburnham.com