Farrah Hall

You are here: Home

Olympic Campaign 2008: The Final Chapter

Last week we finally had the long-awaited arbitration hearing. If you have been reading the news and blogs, you will already know that the decision did not go my way. The arbitrator made his decision based on the issue of due process, not on the merits of the decision of the Olympic Trials Jury who improved the score of the second place competitor. It was refreshing to be able to make my case to an independent arbitrator, and I was grateful for the opportunity to tell my story. Even though the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped it to be, it’s been a very defining time in my life.

I learned many lessons during this ordeal. It’s made me step up my game in a big way both on and off the racecourse. I’ve become much more confident, and have learned what it means to play the game of professional and Olympic sailing, and how to successfully run a full-time campaign. I have dealt with a lot of press, both positive and negative publicity, and enjoyed every minute. I proved to myself that I have the drive, the passion, and the killer instinct necessary to succeed at sport. I have known that I had this all along, but I relished the opportunity to fully apply it to my life and change myself for the better.

The decision marks the end of my campaign for the 2008 Olympic Games. However, it also creates new beginnings. First of all, I hope my case will be used to create change within the USOC rules, to make sure something like this can’t happen again. It also is the beginning of my campaign for 2012. Next week I return to Europe to begin a summer of training in Poland. There’s nowhere to go from here but higher and higher!

Kiel Week 2008

Kiel Week has started! View results here, and check out the blog for updates!

Arbitration Hearing Confirms Nancy Rios as US Olympic Representative

Farrah Hall Statement for Immediate Release

ANNAPOLIS, MD, MAY 23, 2008 – Yesterday concluded the long awaited US Olympic Committee arbitration hearing between me and US Sailing. The hearing was the last opportunity to reverse the single party redress hearing at the US Sailing Olympic selection trials last October that named Nancy Rios as the windsurfer to represent the US at the Olympics.

The two-day trial, held in Providence, Rhode Island, concluded when the arbitrator decided that my claim did not meet the threshold for a due process dispute. This decision means that Nancy Rios will now represent the United States in the RS:X Women’s boardsailing event in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Nancy has my very best wishes for success at the Games.

Attending the arbitration were my legal team, US Sailing’s legal team, Nancy Rios’ lawyer, witnesses, and of course Nancy and me.

I plan to rejoin the European regatta circuit and continue training, and am considering plans to campaign for the 2012 Olympic Games in the United Kingdom.

I would like to thank all my supporters, who have in many different ways shown their belief in what I am doing. The level of commitment and support I have received has been truly phenomenal. This will be a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Since the selection trials I've raced with and against Nancy at the Worlds in New Zealand and at Hyères, France. I hope the competition I provided has assisted in her preparation for Qingdao.

Protest Committee Again Denies a Fair Hearing

PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, RI, APRIL 15, 2008 – A five-man Protest Committee today reaffirmed a decision made last October to remove Olympic boardsailing hopeful Farrah Hall as winner of the Olympic Selection Trials for RS:X Windsurfing. Meeting in Providence last week, the Committee finally considered evidence found by Hall but elected not to alter its decision.

In October last year, Hall, from Annapolis, Md., won the last race of the Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif., and the right to represent her country at the sailing Olympics this August in Qingdao, China. Barely an hour later, the event Protest Committee named Nancy Rios of Miami, Fla., as the trials winner after Rios sought redress from a starting line collision in the last race involving a third sailor. Rios, who finished fourth, said the collision damaged her sail and hurt her ability to compete effectively. The decision dropped Hall to second place overall.

The Epic Road

Check out my new blog, "The Epic Road" about life as a professional windsurfer...and just life in general. I'm still working out the kinks and will be setting it up in a new format in a few weeks.

I’m looking forward to being the US representative for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing , China . I’ll be training and racing hard in order to reach this goal. On the way, I also hope to increase national attention for Olympic windsurfing and Olympic development programs, and be an excellent ambassador for the United States . Please use this site to learn about, stay updated, and join me on my quest!

Olympic class windsurfing is the most challenging but rewarding sport that I have ever been involved in. It requires bringing together three major elements: equipment-specific sailing technique, racecourse management and tactical sailing, and IronMan-level physical fitness. I am grateful for my ability to rise to elite levels of competition, mental strength, and physical fitness. I am also grateful to be able to the travel around the world and represent the United States on an international level of competition. As an athlete, this has been my lifelong dream.