Yachtie Leslie Egnot, once one of New Zealand's highest profile sportswomen, could be back in the public eye in the next two years.
Egnot, an Olympic silver medallist and America's Cup skipper, has had a low profile for five years as she raised a family.
But with the children growing, and
more time on her hands, competition is again a lure.
Late last year, Egnot became Yachting New Zealand's high-performance coach for the double-handed classes.
That role has taken her to Christchurch this weekend where she is coaching the sailors at the 470-class national championships.
Exposure to sailing has rekindled her competitive instincts and yesterday she hinted at trying for the Athens Olympics. "I may be back training this winter," Egnot said. "If it happens it will happen, but right now my focus is on coaching and I'm enjoying that."
Egnot said she was interested in making a bid for Olympic selection in the new Yngling class, a three-woman keelboat.
"There's a fantastic opportunity there for the taking.
"Someone has to give it a go, but I haven't decided yes or no. I don't have my hopes pinned on qualifying at the moment."
The one drawback was that there are no Yngling-class boats in New Zealand.
"That would mean a lot of travelling and time away. If I was to give it a go it would have to be a short, sharp campaign," she said. "With family commitments I couldn't do a three-year campaign."
Her sister Jenny, who crewed on the 470 at the Sydney Olympics, has also shown an interest in the class.
Before she retired, Egnot was troubled by a neck injury suffered in the America's Cup campaign in 1995 when she skippered the all-woman yacht Mighty Mary. The injury has since improved.
"I'm hoping it will come right and I will be able to sail again."
Meanwhile, Egnot says she is delighted with the group of 470-class sailors she is coaching in Christchurch, including Jenny.
"In past years some people in Olympic classes haven't worked well together. There was a lot of rivalry and crews tended to keep things secret. But this group is working well together [despite] knowing only one will get to the top."
- NZPA
