Isaac McHardie: Olympic sailor on their silver medal success in the men's skriff 49er

Adding another medal to New Zealand’s tally was Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie who took the silver in the men’s skriff 49er race. 

McHardie joined Piney to recap the race and go through his emotions in the wake of their success. 

“We, we can't quite believe it yet. It hasn't sunk in, you know, the, the last race was immense and we yeah, we, we're super proud.” 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Third place with no sign of any other crews behind them.
It's Isaac McCarty and Will McKenzie crossing for third in
this race, but that means silver for New Zealand's on
the coast of Marseille. It's a silver Mac attack and
the Kiwi's, with smiles on their faces, tip the boat
over and manew into the ocean. Here to celebrate their.

Speaker 3 (00:35):
Medal terrific Isaac McCarty and Will McKenzie finished third in
the double points race final that saw them finish second
in the men's forty nine oer class and win the
silver medals. I spoke shortly after that victory with Isaac
McCarty to ask how it felt to be an Olympic
silver medalist.

Speaker 4 (00:54):
Jason's absolutely unbelievable. We can't quite believe it yet. It
hasn't sunk in.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
You know.

Speaker 4 (01:01):
The the last race was immense and we, yeah, we're
super proud. Tell us about as New Zealanders.

Speaker 3 (01:08):
Tell us about the strategy. Actually, before we talk about
the metal race, we had a couple of cracks at
it yesterday, didn't we and and couldn't get it done.
How challenging was that as you waited for the opportunity
to actually race this metal race?

Speaker 4 (01:22):
Yeah, it was. It was actually super challenging for us.
You know, it was a stressful position for us to
be in and to have to sort of prime ourselves
three times, so that was quite stressful. But we did
a really good job of resetting and working as a team,
and yeah, we actually put ourselves in great positions in
all of them. So it was And it was super

(01:44):
hot as well over here, so we wouldn't think we'd
be out on the water for that long and we
were getting low on ice and water, so it was.
It was a it was a management management program for
us well.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
So not only not much wind, but pretty done hot
as well. So the elements really through everything at you
did they in Marseille.

Speaker 4 (02:02):
They did. It was a crazy day. You know, we
were so hot, we got what was it halfway through
two races and they just ended it at the end
of it. So by the bottom mark, I don't think
I've ever been that hot in my life. I was
sweat running down my head.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
How do you reflect on the whole on the whole week,
the whole week of sailing. You know, as I say,
there's been there's been wind shift, You've had to wait,
you've had to be patient. How do you reflect on
the whole Olympic regatta.

Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, it's been a super tricky week. As I'm sure
a lot of you guys have seen. The results have
been all over the show. Nobody sort of ran away
with it which people normally do. Yes, super shifty, super light.
We had, yeah, some crazy days on the water, but

(02:53):
it's been surreal to just sit back and actually compete
in our first Olympic Games. And we've just been proud
New Zealanders soaking every minute of it up. You know,
we've had friends and family here. It's been super special.

Speaker 3 (03:06):
As far as the medal itself is concerned, what were
your expectations or your ambitions coming in? I know every
elite sportsperson aims high. Was the podium something that you
realistically targeted?

Speaker 4 (03:22):
Absolutely? We knew, Yeah, the podium was our goal. There's
a lot of very experienced sailors in the forty nine
ers fleet at the moment and some guys that have
been crushing it, so we were you know, we wanted
to be on the podium, but we were ready to
accept anything, and you know it can carry on the

(03:43):
legacy of what Pete and Blair have left is superspicial
for us as well.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, you've alluded nicely to my next question. You know,
the success of Peter Berling and Blair Chuk and this
very class I wonder whether that ever weighed heavy on
you did it.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
Yeah, it was definitely in the back of our minds.
You know, we didn't want to fall short, especially these
last few days where it's just been so close to
be able to finish it off and yet contend continue
that legacy from New Zealand is very special.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
Have you had much or any contact with Peter and
Blair in the lead up to the Olympics.

Speaker 4 (04:18):
Yeah, both of the boys have flogged us messages and
wish us good luck. Blair's been messaging me every day. Yeah,
so it's really cool to have those boys behind us.

Speaker 3 (04:30):
And yeah, tell us about how the week's been off
the water. You mentioned you've got some support crew there.
Has it felt a bit special though, being part of
an Olympic regatta and how much opportunity have you had
to spend time with people off the water.

Speaker 4 (04:46):
It's been really cool. Our New Zealand team down here
in Marseilles. It's not very big, is small, it's a
small team, but it's a special team. We're super strong.
So it's been it's been like home. We've been here
for a couple of months now, so we've been very
focused and that aspect, and we haven't actually had a

(05:06):
lot of time to see friends and family because we
have had our heads down just focusing on the regatt.
So hopefully tonight we get the chance to catch up
with a whole lot of friends and family and celebrate.

Speaker 3 (05:17):
Tell me a bit about Will McKenzie. What's he like?

Speaker 4 (05:20):
Oh, he's a good roocere. He's a very smart man.
He's a talented yochte as well and a very good
made of mind.

Speaker 3 (05:27):
How does the relationship on the water work? Do you?
Are you now at the point where you don't have
to talk He give a lot because you know what
each other is thinking. Or is there still quite a
bit of conversation out there?

Speaker 4 (05:37):
Yeah, COM's is a huge part of sailing, so we'll
always try and keep the communication high. There's many parts
on the boat now that we don't have to talk about,
little things like staring and trimlate that and powering the
sails up and depowering the sails. But the communications a
lot more involved with tactics and were's the nixt wind shift,

(05:58):
where's the boats on the course, and yeah, preparing for races.
So community communication is very high on board and.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
We're chatting not long after you know you finished the race.
You haven't had the opportunity to receive your medal yet.
Has what you've achieved sun can or do you think
that'll need to wait until you're on that podium with
a bit of precious metal around your neck.

Speaker 4 (06:21):
I think it'll really settle in once so you're on
that podium, Isaac.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
Terrific stuff, mate. We enjoyed watching back here. It was,
as you say, we yet to be patient, having three
cracks at it, but to get across the line third
in the medal race and secure silver for yourself in
Will and for New Zealand. Terrific stuff. Thanks for taking
the time for a chatting and joy the celebrations.

Speaker 4 (06:39):
Thank you very much and cheers too everyone back home
for you guys support, it's been unreal.

Speaker 1 (06:43):
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