Sam Meech aims his Laser in new direction

Rio bronze medallist has been forced into a new formula to find the speed to go better in Japan, writes

Laser sailor Sam Meech is hoping a rare opportunity to focus on fitness and boat speed can take his Olympic campaign to the next level.

Meech is the first New Zealand sailor in action when his class opens the action at the Enoshima venue today.

The 30-year-old Meech has been on the international regatta treadmill since 2008 and has been incredibly consistent, highlighted by his bronze medal four years ago at Rio.

Covid-19 put a halt to the nonstop calendar and Meech has wisely maximised the respite.

‘‘I’ve been doing a lot of training and a lot of work on speed and stuff which is quite rare, we don’t often get an opportunity to do that,’’ Meech said.

‘‘Usually you get a few months off, and you’re back into another competition. Here, we have done a solid fitness block, and a lot of speed training.

‘‘It’s going to very different. The Europeans have been doing a lot of racing lately, so they will be match ready in that regard.

‘‘I’m hoping I’m going to be quick and that will make the difference.

‘‘I’m excited, but it’s going to be a pretty different Games. At the last one I had a pretty good idea how I was tracking going in. But this time, there’s going to be a lot of new people and it’s going to be quite a different competition.’’ Meech hasn’t sailed an international regatta since February last year. But you’d bet against him figuring prominently at your peril.

Since making the podium at his first Olympics in 2016, he has sailed 24 major events, winning two, finishing second eight times, placing third three times, and only being outside the top 10 twice. He faces 10 fleet races through to Friday with the medal race,

featuring the top 10 sailors, held next Sunday.

‘‘Consistency will be a key. I think we will get a range of conditions, so just being there every day and being in a position to go for that last step in the medal race,’’ he said of what’s required in a sailing zone that could be hit by some typhoon swell.

He will be one of the favourites in the 35-strong fleet that includes proven talents Matt Wearn (Australia), Philipp Buhl (Germany), Pavlos Kontides (Cyprus) and Brazilian Robert Scheidt, who won the first of his two Olympic gold medals way back at Atlanta in 1996.

Meech, older brother of Olympic silver medallist Molly from the women’s 49erFX who is also sailing again in Japan, has a calm presence that should serve him well.

‘‘They say having an Olympics under your belt makes a big difference, so I’m hoping that’s true.

‘‘It’s just not as nervewracking going in. I know what to expect. But it’s still going to the Olympics and that pressure will be there.’’

Meech knows expectations will be high on him and the New Zealand sailing team after their success in Rio, where they won four medals.

‘‘We’ve got a really strong team, all the sailors here are capable of medalling,’’ he said.

‘‘They are solid sailors and great to be around.’’