Wharf sailor begins voyage to 2012

By Rob Virtue on March 3, 2009 10:47 AM |

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Many of us sit at our desks wondering where we'll be in a few years' time, but one man's vision is likely to be a little different.

Chris Russell's dream sees him standing on a podium wearing a gold medal while the national anthem plays around him.

For Chris, an advertising account manager with Wharf-based Ogilvy, is one of the country's leading sailors and has already begun working towards London 2012.

The 26-year-old is already in intensive training, splitting his time between work at Cabot Square and the Olympic sailing centre in Weymouth.

He said: "It seems a long way away but this is all geared towards getting me on the podium. While gold is hopefully the end result, it's also about the journey leading up to it."

Chris has been on the international scene since he was 13.

He is waiting for the rankings class to come out in the spring and is hoping to be in the top three in the country at the Laser discipline.

He said: "It was my dad who introduced me to sailing when I was five.

"It gives me an amazing sense of freedom. It's also about the challenge against nature.

As with cycling - where you'll never beat a mountain - with a boat you will never beat the sea, but the thrill of the battle is what I love."

He has regularly competed with Brit Paul Goodison, who won gold in 2008, but Chris hopes he can take his place on the podium for 2012.

It was only recently he revealed to colleagues his Olympic dream, because he had to change his hours to fit in with training.

Chris said: "I've kept it relatively quiet but now we're coming closer I've had to be more open about it. I've got lots of pats on the shoulder but also a few raised eyebrows.

"Ogilvy have been great in terms of time and financial help.

"There's a big cost involved in it and we've outlined budgets on how we can get to 2012. What I'm really looking for are partners to get on board."

As well as Ogilvy's support, his gym, Reebok Sports Club at Canada Square, has given him a free metabolic profile, which normally costs £125, to help with his training.

The system uses complex analysis to give a 12-week regime tailored to the athlete's needs.

Reebok's fitness manager Lucy Johnson said: "We help people of all levels of health and fitness but to assist someone whose goal is to get to the Olympics is fantastic.

"The last Olympics was such an amazing event for Britain and lifted so many people, so to help Chris for 2012 is a great honour."

Email chrisrussell2012@googlemail.com or call 07851619749.