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Olympic Preview 2012

Members of the U.S. Olympic Sailing team run the gamut when it comes to medal chances.
Women's 470 team Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan
Women’s 470 team Amanda Clark and Sarah Lihan have an ISAF ranking of 4th and placed 19th at the 2012 Worlds. Their best recent international finish was 2nd at 2012 Hyéres Week in France. SW Prognosis: Dark horse medal condensers whose chances rise with the wind strength. Read more about Clark and Lihan, and watch a video. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
Rob Crane
Laser sailor Rob Crane‘s ISAF ranking is 205h and he placed 77th at the 2012 Worlds. His best recent international finish was 14th at the 2011 ISAF Worlds in Australia. SW Prognosis: With a first and second at the 2011 Worlds, he struggled to find that form in 2012. Slim chance of a medal. Read more about Rob Crane and watch a video. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
49er sailors Erik Storck and Trevor Moore
49er sailors Erik Storck and Trevor Moore have an ISAF ranking of 14th. Their best recent international finish was 9th at the 2011 ISAF Worlds in Australia. SW Prognosis: Dark horse. They were in line for a top-five finish at the 2011 Worlds before suffering a breakdown. Read more about Storck and Moore, and watch a video. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
Men's RS:X sailor Bob Willis
Men’s RS:X sailor Bob Willis has an ISAF ranking of 41st and placed 45th at the 2012 Worlds. Bob’s best recent international finish was 25th at 2012 Hyéres Week in France. SW Prognosis: Willis is better in heavy air, but isn’t expected to crack the top 10 at the Olympic regatta. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
Star sailors Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih
Star sailors Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih have an ISAF ranking of 205h and they placed 21st at the 2012 Worlds. Their best recent international finish was 3rd at the 2011 ISAF Worlds in Australia. SW Prognosis: A 2004 Olympian in the Laser, Mendelblatt is supremely talented, but then again, so is virtually everyone in the 16-boat Olympic Star fleet. He has shown the ability to place on the podium and is considered a medal contender, but his performance at the 2012 Worlds is a concern. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
Men's 470 sailors Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl
Men’s 470 sailors Stuart McNay and Graham Biehl have an ISAF ranking of 4th and placed 25th at the 2012 Worlds. Their best recent international finish was 2nd at 2010 Sail Melbourne in Australia. SW Prognosis: Repeat Olympians. Great ISAF ranking, but they’ve never finished better than 10th in a world championship. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
Women's RS:X sailor Farrah Hall
Women’s RS:X sailor Farrah Hall has an ISAF ranking of 53rd and finished 40th at the 2012 Worlds. Farrah’s best recent international finish was 12th at 2010 Kiel Week in Germany. SW Prognosis: A top-half finish at the Olympics would be a breakthrough. Mick Anderson/SailingPIX
The match racing trio of Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer, and Debbie Capozzi represent one of the team’s best chances for a medal in Weymouth.
Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandermoer and Debbie Capozzi
In August, Tunnicliffe (far left) will hope to add to the gold she won in the Radial in Qingdao. Capozzi (in green) will try to atone for a disappointing showing in the Yngling in 2008.. This will be Vandemoer’s first trip to the Olympics. Richard Langdon
Finn sailor Zach Railey
Finn sailor Zach Railey is psyched to be going back to the Olympics. Especially because this time he’s bringing along his sister. Read more about Railey, and watch a video. Daniel Forster/rolex
Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey
Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey represents one of the United States’ best chances for a medal in 2012, but had a disappointing finish at the 2012 Laser Radial World Championships in Boltenhagen, Germany. She was ninth, finishing only three of the 12 races inside the top five. Read more about Railey, and watch a video. Mick Anderson
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