Sailing World Cup in Albury girl's sight

Laura Thomson, 16, is a third generation sailor and will rub shoulders with some of the best international athletes in her sport..

It will be her first time competing in the Laser Radial class where she will race in a single-handed Olympic sized dinghy at the event.

She will also be the youngest in her category.

Thomson will compete in two races per day at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, and the final medal race will be held on Sunday December 9.

In the lead up to the World Cup, she has been invited to train with the Australian Youth Radial Team, coached by Australian Sailing Coach Jared West

Thomson said her ultimate goal is to one day sail in the Olympics.

“I love being able to go out on the water and escape from all the worries you have on the land,” Thomson said.

“The thrill of competition is what keeps me going and being able to physically push yourself against other competitors.

“These little goals are stepping stones to hopefully one day get me to the Olympics.

“The World Cup should be a great experience.”

Thomson is part of the Victorian State Team and hopes to place in the top five in the national and youth national competitions to qualify for a full-time spot in the Australian youth squad.

She is a member of the Albury Wodonga Yacht Club and trains on Lake Hume and on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne.

To allow her to spend more time at home, she also began physical conditioning with the new Border Academy of Sport in Albury.

When she's not sailing, Thomson is working to complete year 10 at Albury High School.

“My grandparents always sailed and my parents met through sailing, so it is something I have grown up around,” she said.

“I still go to school, but it can be a bit of a juggle.

“To prepare for the World Cup I've been doing lots of training.

“I spend most weekends in Melbourne doing on-water training and go to the gym up to three times a week.

“Instead of Tuesday afternoon sport, the school allows me leave to go and train.”