A passion for sailing courses through the veins of Martine Grael. After all, she is the daughter of Torben Grael, winner of the most Brazilian Olympic medals in history:  gold in Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004, silver in Los Angeles 1984 and bronze in Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000. On Thursday, 16 March 2009 Martine won gold in the 420 Class at the Youth Sailing World Championships held in Búzios, Brazil. Today, she is hoping that Rio de Janeiro will be chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games so that she can try to emulate the feats of her champion father in front of a Brazilian crowd.

The Youth Sailing World Championships brought together 280 athletes from 59 countries. Martine, currently 18 years old, won with her crew – Kahena Kunze. "It felt sensational to win the Championship. We trained hard, it was a huge challenge. I dream about the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games, and if they were held in Rio, it would be even better. I want to be champion of everything that I can be, but it will be difficult to do better than my father! He is my idol," said Martine.

Should Rio win the right to host the 2016 Games, sailing competitions will be held in Guanabara Bay, local waters that Martine knows very well. "I always train there. It is an excellent location and would be a breathtaking setting for the Games," the yachtswoman said.