Grae Morris has become the first Australian since Atlanta 1996 to win an Olympic windsurfing medal – a silver – following the delayed final on the water near Marseille. It is a remarkable achievement, all the more so because, had life turned out slightly differently, Morris might have been playing in a different sport and representing a different country.
The 20-year-old, the youngest competitor in his category at the Games, was born in Australia to New Zealand parents. Growing up, Morris – a dual citizen – dreamed of representing the All Blacks. He was a talented full-back and played in the first XV at Cranbrook College in Sydney; his idols were legendary New Zealand stars Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
