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Connecticut College alumna qualifies for 2008 Olympic Sailing Team

Amanda Clark, a 2005 graduate of Connecticut College and former Intercollegiate Association All-American, will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.

October 16, 2007

Amanda Clark, a 2005 graduate of Connecticut College and former Intercollegiate Association All-American, has officially qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Clark and her teammate Sarah Mergenthaler make up "Team Go Sail" and will represent the United States in the 470 class this coming summer.

After nine days and 16 grueling races at the Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California, Clark and Mergenthaler clinched their berth with their victory in the 15th race. This was the first time that men and women were competing together in the 470 class. The winning duo topped the entire fleet of men´s and women´s competitors in impressive fashion.

Clark received her degree in studio art and minored in art history. She was a member of the varsity coed and women´s sailing teams at Connecticut College. In 2001, Clark won the Singlehanded North American Championship.

Clark was a two-time ICSA All-America and a two-time New England Singlehanded Champion for the Camels. She was honored as co-recipient of the Anita L. DeFrantz ´74 Award, given annually to the outstanding senior athlete for outstanding athletic achievement, leadership and sportsmanship.

Clark was ecstatic over the achievement of her team and is looking forward to an exciting year.

"I´m really excited," Clark stated. "We´re just overwhelmed. It still hasn´t sunk in yet."

Clark maintains a close relationship with Connecticut College coach Jeff Bresnahan. When the Olympic bid was clinched, Clark contacted Bresnahan immediately to celebrate the honor.

"Jeff has been an inspiration," Clark said. "He´s a great person. He´s helped me so much in so many ways. He knows so much about sailing and campaigning. He´s a true asset for me any time."

Bresnahan said he is very proud of Clark and was honored when she called to share her exciting news.

"Amanda is the hardest working person I know," Bresnahan stated. "She is dedicated in every part of her life. I am honored that she still seeks my opinion from time to time. On Saturday, I was following the scores on the internet and all of a sudden her name popped up on my cell phone and she told me she won. It was a great moment as a past coach to be included in her victory."

Clark and Mergenthaler will take a short break from competition this month. They will train in Australia from November until the end of January in preparation for the World Championships.

Clark is the third women to qualify for the Olympic Sailing Team from the Camel athletic program. In 2004, Carol Cronin ´86 (Yngling) and Meg Gaillard ´95 (Europe) competed in Athens, Greece.

For more news about Connecticut College alumni, visit www.conncoll.edu/alumni.

For more information contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu