Paige Railey: 2X U.S. Olympian Shares Her Sailing Journey So Far!

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

8 years ago

Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) dedicated herself to competitive sailing at an early age, inspired and encouraged by her older brother, Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medalist Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.). As a teenager, Railey won the 2006 Laser Radial World Championship, which propelled her to international recognition in the sport, and she garnered Rolex World Sailor of the Year and US Sailing Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year honors for her impressive results.

Railey narrowly missed Olympic selection to Beijing 2008 after a close battle with teammate Anna Tunnicliffe (Pittsburgh, Penn.), who went on to win gold in China. Railey bounced back to make the team for London 2012, and looked strong heading into the Games after a 3rd place finish at the 2011 World Championship. Railey finished 8th at the Olympic regatta held in Weymouth, UK, and immediately vowed to return stronger and faster for her third full-time campaign.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Two-Time U.S. Olympian
2016 silver, Laser Radial Worlds
2015 4th, Rio de Janeiro Olympic Test Event
2015 gold, Toronto 2015 Pan American Games
2013 bronze, Laser Radial Worlds
2012, 8th, Laser Radial, 2012 Olympic Games, Weymouth & Portland, U.K.
2011-12 US Sailing’s Olympic Athlete of the Year
2011 bronze, Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games
2010 US SAILING’s SportsWoman of the Year
2010 Florida Women’s Sailing Association Young Sailor the Year
2009 St. Francis Yacht Club Yachtswoman of the Year
2007 gold, Rio 2007 Pan American Games
2006 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
2006 US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
2006 gold, Laser Radial World Championship
More World Championship medals (5) than any athlete in the history of the Laser Radial class

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Paige Railey is an exceptionally talented and highly accomplished Two-time Olympian and 2016 Silver Medalist at Laser Radial Worlds. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have been a member of U.S. Sailing Team since 2005 and also a member of the Harken and McLube Speedteam. You reached the pinnacle of success in Laser Radial Sailing when you won Gold at the Laser Radial World Championship 2006, and was named US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year & ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year. Tell us about this incredible journey and how it all began?

Ms. Paige Railey: I’d like to say I used stepping stones:
First:was to get my name known
Second: be better than the boys
Third: become the Best in the World
Fourth: win an Olympic Gold

I didn’t jump full force because I honestly didn’t know where my journey was leading me. All I knew was I liked winning and I was letting my path unfold as I went.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of Laser Radial Sailing?

Ms. Paige Railey: This is an interesting one. No one. I never believed in having a poster on my wall or having to use someone else to motivate or inspire me to achieve my dreams. I believed that it all came from within. I look back at that 15 year old girl and I think wow….look at her.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What is your current workout routine?

Ms. Paige Railey: I do 2 gym sessions a day…one cardio and one lift. I do a lot of Olympic lifts and I’m constantly trying to gain weight. When I am sailing I do a sailing session plus one gym or a cardio session.

I’m not going for a beach body. I train for my sport and I train to be strong for my dreams. The amazing thing about Olympians is the differences amongst the bodies. We do what we need to be the best in the world, not the sexiest on the beach. To me that’s beautiful.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Paige Railey: When I was initially gaining weight yes…lots of protein and all the time! I eat to fuel my body and to help gain/maintain weight. I don’t care about junk, carbs etc…I am all about getting in the proper energy, vitamins, minerals and fats to help keep my body performing correctly. When you fuel your body properly you will notice that it looks better too.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding sailor girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of laser radial sailing?

Ms. Paige Railey: It’s important to remember that following your dreams is a tough road. There will be ups and downs but you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Dreams do come true….you have to keep at it!

Ms. Namita Nayyar: In 2014, you were in a serious bicycling accident that resulted in a fractured spine as well as dislocated knuckles, but you fought through it like a brave warrior. How were you able to cope up through the injuries and make a spectacular comeback?

Ms. Paige Railey: I used it as a motivator. I didn’t let it out me down. Instead I kept thinking about recovery, what I needed to do and how to do it. People can do anything they put their mind to and I was determined to get back. Strength isn’t physical…strength is mental. How hard are you willing to work to win, to heal or to achieve your dreams???

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What would you like to say to the other athletes who unfortunately sometimes meet with similar accidents, so that they can be motivated to cope up and come out of it?

Ms. Paige Railey: There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t let the setbacks keep you from your road to recovery. Talk to people, voice your concerns but know this….change and progress comes from within. You have to be ready to fight and give everything you have until you’re healthy again.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You were awarded the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Award and the U.S. Sailing’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. How do you feel about being awarded with such prestigious titles? Also, does it bring upon some added pressure to perform even better?

Ms. Paige Railey: It was a complete honor! I loved that people recognized all of my achievements…it meant everything. Yes I felt pressure but I have dealt with it. I started to focus on the here and now.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You’ve won a Silver Medal at the 2016 Laser Radial Worlds, Gold at Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, Bronze in 2013 Laser Radial Worlds and many more. Tell us about the most memorable experience that you’ve had across all these Championships?

Ms. Paige Railey: Sailing at the world champs in 2016. Too see my sailing come back to form meant everything. My road to recovery was extremely tough, but I never quit. To be awarded the silver was the reward.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Being a Female in a Male’s Sport, how are you able to perform at par with your other male opponents?

Ms. Paige Railey: My head! I stay strong, focused and I work harder. I laugh at anyone that tells me I can’t do it! I don’t reply verbally, I prove it with my results.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: With the Rio Olympics 2016 just around the corner, would you like to share with us how your last-minute preparations for the Olympics are going on?

Ms. Paige Railey: REST! I’ve done all my work and now I’m resting.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Paige Railey: You can achieve anything you set your mind to whether it’s weight loss, muscle gains, sporting achievements. Success is all in the mind of the beholder. Be strong and keep moving forward….achieving your drama is just around the corner.

To know the latest from Paige Railey, follow her at:

Women Fitness Team thanks Paige Railey for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.

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