PROMOTION Thrings meets. lan Walker MBE, Director of Racing at the Royal Yachting Association an Walker has enjoyed Olympic sailing team, two America's Cups and eight yearssailing round things in life, calls for attitude, commitment and hanger, And phenomenal success at the Olympics, the Amerka'sCupand the woeld - before joining the HYAdesire is the human aspect that the Volvo Ocean Race Here he I'm now enjoying putting everything sits behind it al1. Whether it's explains his carrent role as Director of ve earned togood use, sport or Iasiness, there has to be that fundamental desire to better Royal Yachting Assoclation (RYA) to Why has the Britlish Olympic sailing yourself, to want to learn and to put Thrings partner Sally Pike programme been so successfult The key to winning so many Olympic medals has been our abity to support our best sailors whilst training up the next generation Our sailors and our coaches are talented and very committed, but that only goes so far. The Nationl Lottery funding provided by UK Sport is what has enabled all British spostsmen and women to excel at the Olympics over the last 20 years. in more effort than the next person. These are the traits I look foe in Where does your love of racing stem fromt My parents didn't sail, so that's a good question! My first experience was renting a small model boat on a pond in Paris when I was seven. I grew up near youngsters; you see many talented people but if they havent got the desire, theyre unlikely to make it to the highest level How d time away from the RYA? Im not great at relaxing and I usually spend any freetime 1get on oe near the water. Despice being a keen kiteboarder, my main passion is still sailing. : sail for fun at Warsash Sailing Club, although these days Iseem to be spending increasing amounts of time driving my youngest Seenoaks which is miles from the sea- but the local sailing club, Chipstead Lake, provided a fun and safe environment in which to practise As a child I was an all-rounder never particularly strong or a super fast runner, but sailing allowed me to use my mind and my body. That suited me perfectly Is there one thing in your career hat you're most proud of? The first Olympic medal in 1996 will lways be the thing that sens me on my way. That said, winning the aughter to her sailing competitions Volvo Ocean Race in 2015 was also Ifind watching her a bit tense, so pretty special, although it was forusually end up going for a bike ride! ditferent reasons: we had created a What does your role as Direetor of Racing involve? Mythem ympicsailin gespons and our success depended on teamenerileplayingt eiepard ad for the Olympic sailing teams performance, the health of club racing and everything that underpins sailboat racing in the U firs place was quite emotional Irs our task to create a pathway foe future generations and inspire them What advice would you to succeed.I raced competitively for gve an aspiring sallor? 26 years-including 12 years with the TE&P many people playing their part. I'd also experienced deleat in 2008 and 2011, so to finally cross the line in ECT Saccess in sailing, as with most For more intormation about Thrings solcitors, please visit THRINGS