Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) – Sports Coaching, Doctor of Philosophy – Human Movement Studies
Michael has been sailing since he was eight years old and at 18 he bought his first Laser. Michael’s Bachelor of Applied Science and PhD in Human Movement saw him research everything he could find on the mental strategies of elite athletes and he started to apply these ideas to his own sailing.
Michael was selected to represent Australia in the Laser class at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and finished a tantalising two points away from an Olympic medal. As part of his preparation, especially to deal with the anxiety of participating at Olympic level, Michael wrote and recorded the prototype of Sailing Mind Skills. His second version of the Sailing Mind Skills assisted him to secure the bronze medal for Australia in the Laser class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2004 Michael was ranked number one in the world and gained selection to the Australian Olympic Team finishing ninth in Athens.
In early 2005 Michael sailed across Bass Strait in a Laser in a record 13 hours, later producing a DVD of the crossing, Bass Strait Laser. In keel boat racing, Michael has competed in three Sydney to Hobart races, is a Farr 40 tactician and the current National Laser Champion.
Employing the latest Sailing Mind Skills™ before and during the regatta via a MP3 player Michael won the Laser World Championship in 2006.