Tokyo 2020 Games: Hong Kong sailor Stephanie Norton trains with reigning Olympic gold medallist during pit-stop in the Netherlands
- The 20-year-old Norton prepares for her third-ever senior event alongside world-class Dutch contingent
- ‘She knows if she does things right, she can keep up with the best,’ said coach Koppelaar ahead of Enoshima outing
History-making Hong Kong sailor Stephanie Norton is preparing for her Olympic Games debut in the strongest way possible – by training alongside the reigning Olympic champion.
With the help of Hong Kong coach and Dutch native Ben Koppelaar, Norton has been soaking up knowledge from the likes of 2016 Rio Olympics laser radial gold medallist Marit Bouwmeester.
“We’ve been lucky enough to train with the Dutch team so we’ve basically had the same preparations as them. We were able to train with a couple of boats so that’s worked out really, really well because Steph was the only laser radial sailor in Hong Kong,” said Koppelaar, who was part of the Dutch Olympic men’s coaching team five years ago.
Koppelaar and Norton were also part of the professional contingent offering tips at Trytopia’s sailing “taster event” last week, aimed at Hongkongers and Asians – of all ages and proximity to watersports – living in the Netherlands.
