Windsurfer Morris tailor-made for Olympic glory

With his Olympic windsurfing silver medal declared a “life-long dream”, Grae Morris has revealed he was bred for Games glory.

The 20-year-old snared silver in high-velocity final in Marseille, which was Australia’s first medal in the event since Lars Kleppich brought bronze home from Barcelona more than 30 years ago.

Competing in the new iQFOiL class, Morris was guaranteed a medal after topping the qualifying rankings and finished second in the three-man winner-take-all final.

From Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the Olympic debutant showed off his silverware in Paris on Sunday after relocating from the Mediterranean port.

“It feels really good, really cool – it’s a life-long dream,” Morris said.

“I’m so happy to be represent Australia with this (medal) around my neck).”

Morris said that before he was born his father decided he wanted his child to be an Olympian.

“Dad told mum that he wanted an Olympian son so mum’s been on my nutrition since I was born,” said Morris, who was also a promising junior rugby player until deciding to focus on the water sport.

“Dad pushed me in every day life – he told me to pick something and just be really good at it.

“I picked a few things and I tried my best… they’re super happy – this medal is not just mine, it’s theirs, and everyone who has supported me.”

He said the family celebrated in Marseille by eating “way too many” crepes.

Morris’s father Brett was a former national windsurfing champion until giving racing away when his 14-year-old started beating him.

“I grew up competing against him, I put him into retirement when I beat him for the first time,” Morris laughed.

Grae said his dad came close to his own Olympic experience, aiming for selection in the 49er sailing class.

“It was definitely a dream of his so I’m just happy he did make it an Olympics but I was the one competing.”