The Brazilian Sailing Federation today made official what Robert Scheidt announced exclusively and personally to YACHT online back in December at the final of the Star Sailors League: the sailing star's comeback! The 45-year-old, who finished fourth after the Olympic Games in his home waters of Rio de Janeiro without winning the sixth Olympic medal of his career, is once again returning to the arena of his life. Apparently, initial intensive tests have persuaded him to take on the Olympic mission again.
The father of two sons will have the hearts of the fans on his side. The likeable Brazilian is regarded by many as a role model for fighting spirit, fair play and sailing excellence - and has been for many decades. Scheidt himself said of his comeback: "The will to overcome myself to achieve this goal spoke louder." The champion is coming back and will enrich the Laser class in many ways.
Scheidt won his first Laser World Championship title in 1995 off Tenerife. That was 23 years ago. His last World Championship victory was in 2013 off Al Musannah, when Philipp Buhl from Sonthofen, who was only 24 years old at the time, proudly won his first World Championship bronze medal. Scheidt also sailed to two World Championship titles in the Star boat in 2007 and 2011 and Olympic bronze with Bruno Prada in 2012, impressively demonstrating his all-round talent. Following his Laser comeback announcement, Scheidt has now signed up for the spring classic Trofeo Princesa Sofía off Mallorca. He told YACHT online almost two months ago that he wanted to do this if he believed he could be competitive. He says that he has to be smart and manage the strength of his ageing body. He knows only too well that he is no longer 25 years old. But he says that it does him good to get up in the morning and have a sporting goal in mind.
Once he has that, he can become a power at any time. Like in 1996, when he defeated Sir Ben Ainslie in a lightning, thunder and rain battle in Savannah according to all the rules of sailing. Ainslie returned the favour four years later, but then switched to the Finn dinghy. The spectacular duel between the two exceptional sailors would otherwise probably have continued for many years. However, Scheidt looked for and found other high-calibre opponents, most of whom he beat. He only ran out of powder at his home race in Rio; he had to retire in fourth place in Brazil of all places. It is possible that the medal-less finish played a role in Scheidt's comeback thoughts, alongside his passion for the Laser and Olympic sailing.
Philipp Buhl, now a world-class competitor in the Laser himself, but only just over half Scheidt's age and once his apprentice - first as a teenager studying from afar and later as a successful athlete himself from an ever-shrinking distance on the course - says of the Laser king's comeback: "My first thought is: impressive! To still have the confidence at the age of 45 to be physically fit enough to compete is quite unique. I know that I and others a little younger still have their aches and pains. So: respect! In the end, Scheidt is a Laser specialist. He sails longer than anyone else in the class and simply wants this sixth Olympic medal. With favourable conditions, he can do it. It's his only chance to become the only one with six Olympic medals. So why not?" So far, no sailor in Olympic history has managed to win six medals. The goal is therefore highly attractive for someone who likes to aim high.
