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Logan Dunning Beck is doing his best to stay positive despite the cruel and abrupt end to his selection push for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The veteran 49er sailor and teammate Oscar Gunn have been forced to abandon their campaign only four months before the four-yearly showpiece in France after Dunning Beck suffered a serious injury while out training earlier this month.
The 30-year-old fractured his tibia in a practice race two days before the start of the world championships in Lanzarote, which also doubled as the final Olympic trial for the 49ers.
Before the injury, Dunning Beck and Gunn had been neck-and-neck in the selection race for the sole 49er spot with Isaac McHardie and Will McKenzie.
"It was just a freak accident, and there was no crash or anything," Dunning Beck explained.
"I somehow managed to load the leg really badly and broke it."
Following surgery, the early stages of his recovery have been going well, but it would take "a few months" to regain full health.
Olympic sailing starts in Marseille on July 28.
Logan Dunning Beck and Oscar Gunn after winning gold at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Spain last year. Photos/ Sailing Energy
"If it had been six months ago, it may have been manageable but there's just not enough time," Dunning Beck said.
"It's obviously not great timing but I guess it could always be worse; it could have happened the day before the Olympics."
He is especially disappointed for Gunn, who he has been sailing with since 2017.
"It's very frustrating for Oscar. He did nothing wrong and, suddenly, it [potential Olympic participation] is taken away.
"It's tough to take because we were going incredibly well in the lead-up to the worlds and we were confident that things were going our way.
"We appreciate everyone's support but, unfortunately, we just couldn't take this opportunity."
