On a path to reaching the pinnacle in the sport of sailing for the Cayman Islands; Charlotte Webster has her sail and eyes set on the biggest opportunity of her life – the Paris Olympics.
Charlotte, 20, the daughter of Ben and Pamela Webster, who met while sailing against each other, received the confirmation in January that she would be representing her country amongst the cream of the crop this summer.
“We were at my dad’s birthday dinner, and he comes in, and my mom’s got tears in her eyes and I knew immediately what happened and then I started crying,” Charlotte said.
It was tears of joy after she and her family realised that the Cayman Islands was a qualifying nation at this year’s Olympics, thanks to Charlotte’s consistent schedule of competition which enabled the placement.
And though her sailing enabled her country to qualify in that sport, it was still up to the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee to choose a representative in the sport, but Charlotte’s place as the top-ranked female sailor in Cayman, made the decision a foregone conclusion.
“It was tricky after that moment because I wasn’t officially announced… I think I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t a little disappointed… but everyone knows now.”
Now in preparation for the Olympics, her goal is simple: “Train hard.”
“My training, it’s been intense but I have learned a lot…in the gym…in the water… and I’m reaching potentials I didn’t realise I actually had in me.”
In addition to her intense training, journalling and taking it one day at a time, Charlotte said she has also been fine-tuning her state of mind, which is vital during races.
“I work with a sports psychologist to help me get in the zone, to help me manage my stress,” she said.
In order to get through the race she remembers things her coaches tell her at training sessions.
“They say keep pushing… you got this.. don’t give up now… 10 more seconds in a plank,; that mentality that they have given me, I harness their energy and in a race their words are in my head.”
‘Putting Cayman on the map’
Leading up to the Olympics, Charlotte competed nearly 20 times internationally over the last three years, including the French Olympic Week regatta in Hyères, where she raced in the Qualified Nations fleet.
Her journey has taken her through calm seas and scary conditions but through it all she has gained the understanding of the calibre of athlete she will be up against in Paris.
When asked if she could possibly bring home a medal for Cayman, she said; “I know that these are the best girls from every single country and I may not have competed against every single one of them, but 90% of that fleet I have competed against before.
“It’s a difficult question because I have been training as hard as I can but so have they. I think it comes down to experience, and as much as I would love to get a medal one day, I think my first Olympics is going to be challenging, but I am going to give it my best and put Cayman on the map, ensure that there is a female sailor from the Caribbean that despite all odds, proved herself.”
Charlotte said sailing has always been a part of her life and it always will be. She leaves home for Paris in the coming weeks to train and familiarise herself with the weather and venue.
She thanked her parents – her “biggest supporters” – and all those who enabled her to qualify for the Olympics.
“I am so grateful to everything that my family has given me,” she said, noting that outside of financial assistance, people like past teachers, coaches, gym trainers, Ava Hider, Jasper Nielsen, and everyone in the Cayman community, have all helped her get to where she is.
Once she competes, Charlotte will become the third female sailor ever from the Cayman Islands to participate in the Olympics – Tomeaka McTaggart was the first in 2002, followed by Florence Allan in 2016.
Swimmer Jordan Crooks and Charlotte are the only two athletes from Cayman confirmed for the Olympics due to their automatic qualifications. However, the CIOC have not announced the official Olympic team.
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