Chasing the Games: Sally Barkow’s Path to Olympic Excellence

In this inspiring episode of The Sailing Show with host Abby Ehler, world-class sailor and Olympic campaigner Sally Barkow shares the inside story of her ambitious Olympic mission and the relentless pursuit of excellence that has defined her career. From her early days as a competitive sailor to representing the United States on the world stage, Sally opens up about the mindset, discipline, and passion required to perform at the highest level. Listeners will hear firsthand what it takes to prepare for the Olympics, navigate the pressures of elite competition, and lead with confidence both on and off the water. Whether you're a competitive sailor, an Olympic hopeful, or simply inspired by stories of resilience and high-performance sport, this episode delivers essential insights into training, teamwork, mental strength, and embracing the challenges of a world governed by wind, weather, and willpower. Tune in to discover why Sally Barkow continues to be one of the most influential voices in professional sailing.

Abby Ehler chats to World Champion Sailor Sally Barkow, who has recently been appointed to US Sailing, as Team Coach and Performance Manager for the Olympic Squad. Sally brings to this role a wealth of sailing experience both on and off the water and covering every facet of the sport, having herself competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in the Yingling keelboat event, leading a team in the M32 World Match Racing Tour and more recently competing in the Volvo Ocean Race with Team SCA and Team Brunel, as well as serving as an active member of the US Sailing Board of Directors. Abby & Sally discuss the role of an Olympic Coach and the challenges & ‘benefits' that the Olympic Squad face with the delay in Olympic competition and the time in lockdown.

Host: Abby Ehler
Guest Co-host: Chris Stafford

The Sailing Show is part of the Women Unscripted podcast network (formerly WiSP Sports) founded in 2012 by Chris Stafford, which has more than 1750 episodes from around the world of women’s sport and the arts. We have covered every sport and all the issues around women in sport. We have interviewed hundreds of athletes and several of them have hosted our shows over the years. Subscribe and download Women Unscripted for free access to our extensive archive library.
Email: wispsports@gmail.com. Follow @chrisstaffordpodcasts on Instagram.