Canada's Sarah Douglas ends Olympic sailing career but plans to continue racing

Sarah Douglas has called time on her Olympic sailing career. But new challenges await, on and off the water.

The 31-year-old from Toronto, who now makes her home in New York, competed at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) class. Her sixth-place finish in 2021 in Tokyo remains the best finish by a Canadian woman in an individual Olympic sailing event.

She was eighth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Her trophy case includes a gold medal from the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and silver from the 2023 Pan Ams in Santiago, Chile.

Douglas was twice named Sail Canada's Rolex Sailor of the Year (2019 and 2020-2021). She is a six-time recipient of Sail Canada Gallagher Skipper's Plan Athlete of the Year Award (2018 to 2024), which rewards athletes who have enjoyed "outstanding achievement in competition," brought recognition to Canadian sailing and set an example through leadership and sportsmanship.

"Sarah Douglas perfectly embodies the spirit of sailing, having demonstrated discipline and perseverance throughout her career," Fiona Cochrane, chair of Sail Canada's board of directors, said in a statement. "Sarah has also demonstrated the power of inclusion, diversity and equity in our sport, and she remains an idol for the next generation of sailors from all different regions, backgrounds, and origins."

In the wake of Paris — and time off after hip surgery — Douglas thought about a third Olympics but decided against continuing on to L.A. in 2028.

"Getting to an Olympic Games and the podium requires a deep burning fire every day that I just didn't have any more," she said. "That's ultimately what led me to stepping away from Olympic sailing."

But not stepping away from sailing.

Next September, Douglas