Other names:

GRAEL SCHMIDT, Torben

SCHMIDT GRAEL, Torben

Born: 22 July 1960

Birthplace: São Paulo (Brazil)

Nationality: Brazil

Sport: Sailing

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Los Angeles 1984

Seoul 1988

Barcelona 1992

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

Athens 2004

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 2

Silver: 1

Bronze: 2

Other results:

World Championships (Star)

Gold: 1 (1990)

Silver: 5 (91, 95, 98, 2002, 2005)

Bronze: 2 (94, 96)

The Brazilian “Turbine”

History has it that, at five years old, Torben Grael was introduced to sailing by his grandfather on a six-metre boat used by the silver-medal-winning Danish team at the Stockholm Olympic Games in 1912. The young Brazilian felt a real passion for this sport. Living in Niterói, on the Bay of Guanabara in Brazil, he spent most of his time sailing. His brother Lars Grael, a future bronze medallist at the Atlanta 1996 Games, shared his passion and often trained with him.

After several years of relentless training, Torben Grael took part in his first Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. In the team keelboat event, with his two team mates Daniel Adler and Ronaldo Senfft, he finished three of the seven regattas in the top three places. The Brazilians were ranked second behind the Americans and returned to their home country with the silver medal. Torben was only 24.

In 1988 in Seoul, he partnered Nelson Falcao in the Star event. At the end of seven rounds, they finished 4.30 points behind the British victors and took the bronze medal.

Four years later in Barcelona, with Marcelo Ferreira, his new partner, Torben Grael gave a poor performance and finished these Games with a modest 11th place.

At the 1996 Atlanta Games, Torben decided to put his last disappointments well and truly behind him. Still with Ferreira, he finished five times in the top three in the Star event, which now comprised 10 rounds. The Brazilian duo ended with a flourish to take 41 points, and were crowned Olympic champions. In Sydney in 2000, he won a new bronze medal despite two poor results in the second and ninth rounds.

At the last Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, again with Marcelo Ferreira, he proved his exceptional consistency by finishing 8 of the 10 regattas in the first five places. He once again took the gold after having led from the fourth round.

After participating in the Games six times, Torben Grael has stacked up two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. This makes him the Brazilian athlete with the most Olympic medals and the most accomplished Olympic sailor. Quiet and observant, he always sees his passion through to the end: never mind the type of boat, the partner or the distance, the important thing is being on the water.