An Olympic future wasn’t always in the cards for Cushman Class of 2002 alumna Sarah Newberry Moore. Though she began competitive sailing at 12, clinched the U.S. Youth Multihull Championship in 2006, and was a top-ranked female multihull athlete, her initial passion was art. This interest led her to attend Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH) and later earn a liberal arts degree from New College of Florida. Despite her focus on art, Moore's love for sailing continued to grow.
With the introduction of the Nacra 17, a new Olympic event featuring foiling catamarans, a boat she knew well, was announced in 2016, she felt it was her calling to pursue sailing full-time after college and make it to the Games.
After two near-misses in Olympic qualification and training with the 2016 Olympic team, Moore took a break to have her child during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reignited her Olympic dreams in June 2021, quickly returning to the water by October. Following a year of gradual post-baby training, she and her teammate, David Liebenberg, intensified their preparation, ultimately securing their place in the 2024 Games.
(Courtesy Sarah Newberry Moore)
Olympian Sarah Newberry Moore and her son, Iren.
Despite encountering significant challenges at the Games, such as a five-day training hiatus right before the race due to weather and a critical mistake in locating the finish line that led her team to land in 16th place – Moore’s competitive resilience grew stronger.
These obstacles have fueled her determination to seize future opportunities, such as joining the America’s Cup and making it to the 2028 Olympic Games.
Moore's ambition is driven by her ability to overcome the unique challenges of being both a mother and a female athlete in a male-dominated sailing world. She takes great pride in proving her critics wrong and demonstrating the strength and resilience that define her success.
“There were a lot of moments in becoming a parent where I found myself having to put my foot down and advocate for myself in a new way that I had never experienced,” Moore said. “I believe that with ongoing efforts, we will see more women being supported and included in these competitive spaces in the future.”