Hailing from a sailing family in Perth, Monique was always going to give it her all. Monique switched to the 470 discipline in 2016, calling it the biggest challenge she has faced in her career. She needed to learn to crew and sail a boat she’d never competed in before, in the four years before the Tokyo Olympic Games. Her hard work paid off when in 2019, de Vries and Nia Jerwood qualified Australia a place at the Tokyo Games. They were also named Australian Female Sailors of the Year. Right by her side is Nia Jerwood and the greatest support coaches Ukrainian-born Olympian Ruslana Taran and Victor Kovalenko. The duo finished the Games in 16th place and never gave up fighting. A great effort by the both of them.
Also growing up in Perth, Nia was born into a family of Elite sailors. Nia joined Shelley Sailing Club and began her own sailing journey where at just 11 years old won her first major title, the Australian Optimist Nationals in 2010. Nia and her 470 partner, Monique de Vries, qualified Australia a place at the Tokyo Olympic Games, when they finished ninth overall at the 470 World Championships. The pair then went on to win their first medal on the world stage, claiming silver in the Hempel World Cup Series in Enoshima with their achievements recognised by being named Australian Female Sailors of the Year for 2019 at the Australian Sailing Awards.
Nia also spoke to us before she departed for Japan and told us her favourite Ronstan items to sail with. Stay tuned in by watching the video below.
Ronstan is a proud partner and supporter of the Australian Sailing Team.
Photo: © Sailing Energy / World Sailing