Australian sailor Matt Wearn will ponder his Olympic future during a 12-month spell from his dual gold-medal winning class.
Wearn was Australia's joint flag bearer at the closing ceremony of this year's Paris Games after becoming the first man to successfully defend an Olympic dinghy title.
But the 29-year-old is taking time away from the dinghy while deciding if he has motivation to return to the class for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Wearn will pursue professional opportunities and other aspects of the sport in a plan supported by his coach Rafa Trujillo.
"Rafa and I discussed the plan before the (Paris) Games as we felt it was critical to the lead-in," Wearn said.
"We decided it was important to take at least 12 months away from the ILCA (dinghy).
"This time will allow me to explore different aspects of sailing, delve into the professional side of the sport and figure out if the drive and hunger for LA are still there."
Wearn's Paris Olympic triumph in the dinghy, previously known as the laser class, followed recovery from a bad bout of long COVID-19 two years ago.
The illness was combined with the shorter three-year turnaround between his gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics of 2021 and the Paris Games.
"With everything compressed into the three years between Tokyo and Paris, I haven’t had proper time off in a while," he said.
"It has been tough but having a holiday with my wife Emma and just stepping away to let everything sink in has been super nice.
"At times it still hits me, especially when people introduce me at events now as a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
"It sort of gives me goosebumps and makes me realise what I’ve achieved."
Wearn, who recently was inducted into the Australian sailing Hall of Fame and also nominated for the world sailor of the year, will dabble with other sailing disciplines.
"I’m getting into foiling ... and continuing to get out on the wing foil, I can stay out for half an hour or three hours, that's the nice bit at the moment, just enjoying it and learning something new," he said.
"Obviously, coming from the ILCA I don't have too much exposure to foiling and that’s the way the sport is going. It has been that steep learning curve and I’m enjoying that challenge.
"I’m also teaming up with John Bertrand for the Etchell Worlds in January (in Melbourne) which could be a stepping stone into professional sailing overseas such as TP52 or RC44 racing.
"Enjoying being a normal person over the Christmas period with family, not having a jet off to events.
"(I am) going to take it easy and enjoy being at home for once in summer, which will be a refreshing change from the usual hectic schedule."
