Meet Martine Grael, The First Ever Female Driver Of A SailGP Team
When it comes to sports in which men and women compete side-by-side, there are few and far between. SailGP , said to be the world's fastest race on water, is one much sport that's seen a substantial rise in female athletes. In the current season 4, there are 42% more female athletes competing compared to season 3.
The league's star is undoubtably Martine Grael , a multiple Olympic gold medallist in sailing. In a SailGP first, the Brazilian national has been confirmed as the driver for the newly formed Brazil SailGP Team, further enhancing the competition's efforts to drive diversity in the sport.
"Having the league's first ever female driver demonstrates SailGP's commitment to the Women's Pathway, which aims to create an inclusive sporting championship that has gender equity at its heart – where the best athletes have equal opportunity to compete on the F50," a representative says.
Grael was raised in a family of sailors and has accomplished various impressive feats on the water including being the first Brazilian female to ever compete in the Volvo Ocean Race and winning gold medals in two Olympics games (2016 and 2020).
As she assumes her role as driver for the Brazil SailGP Team, Grael discusses her greatest goals and aspirations and smashing the glass ceiling of competitive sailing.
Rachel Ingram: Congratulations on becoming the first-ever female driver of a team. How does it feel?
Martine Grael: Thank you. I feel it's very important to get this team up and going not only for me, Brazil, and Mubadala, but also for all the girls who aspire to have this chance.
Please tell us a little about your journey, from how you got into sailing, to rising to this incredible position?
MG: I started dinghy sailing recreationally with my mom. Then, with my friends, I began competing and my mom helped us a lot by taking us to junior events. My dad tried to keep a distance to avoid putting too much pressure on us. As time went by, spending more time with friends and strengthening my identity through sailing, I started to enjoy competing quite a bit.
After several years of competing in youth classes, I began questioning what was next. At the same time, Brazilian women's sailing won its first medal. The same year, I started sailing an Olympic class, and Rio was selected to host the Olympics. It was just too special not to pursue it, but I fell short of qualifying during the London cycle. That experience only fueled my desire to go to Rio and perform well.
After winning the Rio event, I joined the Ocean Race which was also a first for women – having a mandatory spot on the boat for female sailors. I never really stopped training, returned for the Tokyo Olympics, and managed to win a medal, which was quite hard. I qualified for Marseille but did not have a very good event, unfortunately.
What are your insights on diversity currently within competitive sailing?
MG: As many sports are, it is very much male-dominated. The experience and opportunities required to break into professional sailing are still largely reduced for women. Despite a few brilliant events where women participated without specific rules to increase their numbers, the norm is still a male-dominated environment where women have to stand out significantly to get a chance. The boats are typically designed for an 80kg man, so the usual loads in professional sailing are suited for men.
However, this league [SailGP] has shown that female drivers have the opportunity to compete on equal terms with men due to the boat's design, although some roles remain quite physical – I challenged them to avoid just token gestures of equality. It was about time for something to shake up the "status quo."
Beyond winning competitions, what are your aspirations for this role?
MG: My focus is on getting results and the rest will come together naturally, but my aspirations extend beyond the podium. I hope to inspire more girls and women to take up leadership roles within sailing and sport generally.
Why is it so important for you to compete with the newly formed Brazil SailGP Team?
MG: Competing with the newly formed Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team is a huge honor to represent my home country Brazil on an international stage. Additionally, being part of a new team allows us to bring fresh ideas and strategies to the league, contributing to the sport's evolution.
I am happy to be representing Brazil, and we will certainly try to bring some of our atmosphere to the competition.
What are your hopes for the upcoming sailing season with Brazil SailGP?
MG: I'm trying to stay very down-to-earth. If we can keep the boat flying and avoid season penalty points and trouble, it would be a very successful start to the first three events of the season, which we can hopefully build on.
Likewise, what are your ultimate goals in your own career?
