Plantation, Florida - September 5, 2008 - I was in the middle of writing about my last couple of days over in China and reflecting about my amazing multi-year journey when I decided that I want to send out this report first. It’s important that I thank all those people close to me who helped me win in Qingdao.

Any individual participant sport is not won just by the individual. I didn’t win the Laser Radial Gold Medal by myself. I had an amazing support team behind me every since Day One, three and a half years ago. The team has grown over the years as more and more people have decided to join me. I want to thank them all. 

Firstly, I want to acknowledge my gratitude to my sponsors Carmeuse and K-Swiss. Our sport is one of the most expensive around, so having the help of these companies has been huge. Also, under this category I have to thank Bertrand Racing’s Sail Fast Project. John Bertrand and Keith Taylor have been one of the biggest elements of my support network throughout these years. They have allowed me to focus on my sailing whilst they take care of the business side of the campaign. Thanks guys!!

Secondly, I have to thank my family. They have been behind me in whatever I have decided to do. They have always believed in me and encouraged me. When I told them that right out of college I was going to do an Olympic campaign I was expecting the "we didn’t just pay for four years of college so you could go and throw it away sailing" speech. I didn’t hear a word. And that was one of the most encouraging things not to hear from my parents. I knew then that they would be behind me the whole way no matter what happened. So to them – Mum, Dad, and David – let me send a huge thank you your way.

Thirdly, I have to thank my husband Brad Funk for getting me started in this whole scene. My freshman year, Brad took me down to Miami for the OCR regatta and introduced me to international sailing there. I had such a good time. I don’t recall doing super well, but I knew that this was where I wanted to go. Ever since he narrowly missed selection as the USA’s Laser Olympic representative, Brad has been a wonderful training partner for me and was definitely played a huge part in getting me up to speed this last year. Thanks Brad.

Next I have to thank my coaches. Both guys were with me at key points during this campaign. Mitch Brindley was with me when we won the trials, and Luther Carpenter was with me when we won the Gold. Mitch, as you all know was my college coach, so has known me for a while now. He has been a solid supporter for me when I get on my emotional rollercoasters. He was with me in China too, to calm me down if I started to get stressed. Luther has played a huge part especially over the past two years in working with me on the water and off, to understand the sport of sailing and make me get my boat faster. On top of this, he is one of the funniest guys I know and always knows when to lighten the mood. For me, this was a key component because I like to always be having fun. It’s for sure that I couldn’t have done it without these two great guys, and hopefully there will be plenty of opportunities in the near future to work together again.

Of course mounting an Olympic sailing campaign would be impossible without the resources, the financial support and the unfailing encouragement of everyone at US Sailing and US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. Dean Brenner, Chairman of the US Sailing Olympic Program and Gary Bodie, Head Coach and High Performance Director, deserve a special mention.

And finally, I have to thank the Lauderdale Yacht Club, North Cape Yacht Club, Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. Lauderdale YC has been my training base for the campaign and I can't thank the officers and members enough for the use of their wonderful facilities. And, I'll never forget  all those individual loyal supporters who have been behind me over these years. All of the encouraging emails I received over the last two months have been wonderful and I greatly appreciate it.

Thank you all again, and Sail Hard,

Anna