- Breiana Whitehead is competing in her first Olympic Games
- 24-year-old Australian seeks gold in dangerous event
- Whitehead always carries a knife when he competes
Australian Olympic star Breiana Whitehead carries a knife for her own safety as she competes in a sport so fast it’s downright dangerous.
Whitehead, 24, was introduced to sailing by her father when she was still a toddler and began competing at just 10 years old.
She is taking part in her first Games and, given that the kitesurfer can reach speeds of 80 km/h when propelled by strong winds, a knife is an essential part of her equipment.
The device is invaluable when the emergency release mechanism on the cables does not work if the child is propelled too far into the air or if the cables connecting her to the sail become tangled around her neck.
“This is a cool sport,” said Whitehead, who also wears a helmet to prevent concussions, as well as a bulletproof vest in case he hits the dangerous aluminum during an accident.
‘You still have the wind and you can hear the waves. It’s like you’re floating. It feels really good.’
“That’s why I do it, for that special feeling.”
And don’t think that Whitehead is in Paris just to enjoy the Olympic experience as an athlete: she wants to be on the podium.
Meet Breiana Whitehead, the Australian Olympic sailor who carries a knife for her own safety when competing
Whitehead, 24, was introduced to the sport by her father when she was still a toddler and began competing at just 10 years old.
Since the Australian kitesurfer can reach speeds of 80 km/h when swept along by strong winds, a knife is an essential part of his equipment.
The Townsville-born star recently announced herself to the world after winning the Women’s Formula Kite event at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía, a prestigious international sailing regatta in Mallorca, Spain.
Whitehead followed this up with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Formula Kite World Championship in France recently.
She earned a spot at the 2024 Paris Games after placing 11th at the World Sailing Championships held in the Netherlands in August last year.
In addition to racing, Whitehead holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Formula Kite is a new sailing class introduced into the Paris Olympic programme and has become increasingly popular among fans due to the high speeds generated by competitors.
Whitehead will be in the water in Marseille from 8.23pm AEST on Tuesday night and the good judges are considering this a real medal chance.