JU sailing team lunches with Olympic gold medalist

Jacksonville University sailing team members enjoyed lunch and fellowship with Olympic gold medalist sailor Anna Tunnicliffe on Tuesday, Nov. 13 – and got a little advice, to boot, in their quest to be a national contender.

During an informal luncheon at the JU Marine Science Research Institute’s front deck overlooking the St. Johns River, Tunnicliffe encouraged head sailing coach Jon Faudree’s charges to dream big, pursue their passion and to be disciplined – guidance that she noted applies in business, as well. During a question-and-answer session with the JU team members, Tunnicliffe also discussed her career and Olympic pursuits, and the intensive physical training that’s necessary to compete at the sport’s highest level.

(See a Florida Times-Union article on Tunnicliffe’s visit here.)

In addition to winning gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in China, Tunnicliffe is a two-time world female sailor of the year, four-time U.S. female sailor of the year, women’s college sailor of the year, and four-time college All-American at Old Dominion University.

A 30-year-old native of England, Tunicliffe lives in Miami and remains among the top-ranked female sailors in the world.

Here are photos from the luncheon with Anna Tunnicliffe: