Canada in Tokyo – Nikola Girke – Sailing

After a 15th-place finish at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Canadian sailor Nikola Girke retired from the sport.

But Girke likes opportunities, and when one came along to make a run at the 2020 Tokyo Games, she just couldn’t say no.

“I never thought I would come back to the sport,” Girke said before travelling to Japan. “I had started my professional career as an executive coach with my own company and I was looking forward to that.”

Now, at the age of 43, Girke is set to become a five-time Olympian, the first Canadian woman ever to do that in the sport of sailing.

In fact, only three women have done that in the history of the Games. Alessandra Sensini of Italy has appeared at six Olympics, and Girke joins New Zealand’s Barbara Kendall and Brazil’s Fernanda Oliviera with five appearances each.

“I never actually thought about it until one of my friends pulled out some stats,” Girke said of the achievement.

“It was never a goal of mine to compete in that many Olympics. I remember looking back at my first Games and at the older girls and thinking, ‘Come on, move over, let some of the young girls take over’ and here I am the old girl now.”

Girke was born in Grande Prairie, Alta., and lived there, Edmonton and in Germany all before the age of five when she finally settled with her family in Vancouver.

Her father passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1997, something that put Girke’s sailing career on hold, but his influence on her <journey> was huge.

“My dad was an avid sailor and my sister and I got into sailing summer camp and I fell in love,” she said.

“He was probably my No. 1 supporter. Sailing was always his thing with me.

“One of the things I remember from my dad, he said, ‘Live your life now.’ I didn’t want to look back and think I had this opportunity and kind of chickened out.”

Girke said there has been a lot of ‘hurry up and wait’ moments in the last 18 months, largely due to COVID-19.

However, sailing action takes place in the coastal town of Enoshima, rather than the main Tokyo hub.

“Of course there are still question marks. It’s definitely nicer that we won’t have to be put up with thousands more athletes,” Girke said.

The sailing star will be double vaccinated and won’t be too isolated either, as beloved friend Felix the teddy bear will be accompanying her like he has for every event.

“He is immune forever,” she joked about her travel companion that she has had since she was just one year old.

Girke will be competing in the RS:X class, or windsurfing in simple terms, in Japan, but her adaptability and drive has been apparent her entire career.

She’s also the first sailor to compete in three different classes in an Olympics, after racing in the 470 in Athens 2004 and Nacra 17 in Rio.

Her willingness to change sports to find the right one is a message she would share when advising the next generation, living by the motto ‘Dare to dream, dare to achieve, dare to succeed.’

“You do have to dare yourself. It is scary,” Girke said. “It’s not easy to take the unconventional path to your dreams when there may be a very big chance you don’t succeed.

“It’s (all about) doing what you love to do. If you have fun at something you will do it well.”

Will Girke be having enough fun to try and make it six Olympics in 2024?

“I laugh as I said I swear this will be my last one. If I continue sport for fun and the chance comes along, let’s see what happens,” she added.

Women’s RS:X action resumes on July 27

Listen to the full interview – https://iono.fm/e/1078347