Michael Beckett

Beckett began competing aged 10 after learning to sail on his father's handmade boat.{{cite web|url=https://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/21328182.beckett-hoping-extra-sailing-time-covid-will-aid-olympic-dreams/|title=Beckett hoping extra sailing time during Covid will aid Olympic dreams|publisher=Ealing Times|access-date=2024-06-10}}

He won his first major medal when he claimed silver at the 2018 Laser European Championships in La Rochelle, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/44108970|title=Michael Beckett wins silver at Laser European Championships|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/205208/Beckett-scoops-silver-for-Britain|title=Beckett scoops silver for Britain at Laser European Championships|publisher=Sail Web|access-date=2024-06-10}}

Beckett was part of a historic one-two-three for Great Britain at the 2020 ILCA European Championships in Gdańsk, Poland, as he took silver with teammates Elliot Hanson and Lorenzo Chiavarini winning gold and bronze respectively. It was the first time that Britain had taken all three podium places at a major Laser class championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/232369/Hanson-scoops-Laser-Euro-title|title=Podium lockout as Tokyo-bound Hanson scoops Euro title|publisher=yachtsandyachting.com|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/54535723|title=Elliot Hanson takes European Laser gold as Britain fills the podium in Poland|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}

He finally won continental gold at the 2021 ILCA European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria, taking the title with a race to spare after leading throughout the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/58861562|title=European Sailing Championships: Michael Beckett wins ILCA 7 gold|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sail-world.com/news/242700/Micky-Beckett-storms-to-first-ILCA-7-Europeans-win|title=Micky Beckett storms to first ILCA 7 European Championship win|publisher=Sail World|access-date=2024-06-10}}

Beckett took a third European Championship silver medal at the 2022 championships in Hyères, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.sailweb.co.uk/2022/11/21/eurilca-2022-senior-europeans-beckett-finishes-with-second/|title=EurILCA 2022 Senior Europeans – Beckett finishes with Silver as Kontides Triumphes|publisher=Sail Web|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://britishsailingteam.rya.org.uk/news/euro-stars/|title=Beckett seals silver at ILCA Euros|publisher=British Sailing|access-date=2024-06-11}}

He won silver at the 2023 Sailing World Championships in The Hague, Netherlands, and in doing so he clinched an ILCA 7 qualification spot for Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/66560304|title=Sailing World Championships: Great Britain win four medals in final weekend in Netherlands|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/265611/ILCAs-at-the-2023-Allianz-Sailing-Worlds-overall|title=ILCA classes at the 2023 Allianz Sailing World Championships - Overall|publisher=yachtsandyachting.com|access-date=2024-06-11}}

In October 2023 Beckett was named among the first 10 members of the British Sailing Team for the Paris Games.{{cite web|url=https://britishsailingteam.rya.org.uk/news/team-gb-reveals-first-athletes-for-paris-2024/|title=TEAM GB REVEALS FIRST ATHLETES FOR PARIS 2024|publisher=British Sailing|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/67064373|title=Paris 2024 Olympics: Team GB reveals 10-strong sailing team|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}

Despite being given a penalty in the qualifying section, Beckett took a bronze medal at the ILCA 7 World Championship in Adelaide, Australia, in January 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/68169914|title=Micky Beckett: Welshman confident of Olympic success after World bronze|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://britishsailingteam.rya.org.uk/news/micky-beckett-wins-world-championship-bronze-in-paris-2024-run-up/|title=TEAM GB'S MICKY BECKETT WINS BRONZE AT ILCA 7 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS|publisher=British Sailing|access-date=2024-06-11}}

He then won the prestigious Trofeo Princesa Sofía regatta in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, for the third successive year at the 53rd edition in April 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/68741935|title=Sailing: Brit Micky Beckett completes Princess Sofia hat-trick|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/273347/Welsh-wizard-Beckett-inspires-with-Palma-3-peat|title=Welsh wizard Beckett inspires with Palma three-peat|publisher=yachtsandyachting.com|access-date=2024-06-11}}

Beckett recovered from a difficult opening to his Olympic regatta to move into second place after day three thanks to two fourth place finishes.{{cite web|url=https://britishsailingteam.rya.org.uk/news/today-at-the-games-aug-3/|title=Today at the Games: August 3|publisher=British Sailing Team|accessdate=4 August 2024}} However, he suffered a disqualification for being over the start line before the gun fired in the first race on day four and, despite an eighth place finish in the next race, dropped back to fourth going into the final day of the opening series.{{cite web|url=https://britishsailingteam.rya.org.uk/news/today-at-the-games-aug-4/|title=Today at the Games: August 4|publisher=British Sailing Team|accessdate=4 August 2024}} A lack of sufficient wind saw those races cancelled leaving Beckett still in fourth ahead of the medal race.{{cite web|url=https://www.rya.org.uk/news/2024/08/05/paris092024|title=Beckett into men’s dinghy medal race|publisher=Royal Yachting Association|accessdate=5 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cy9eedl9rggo|title=Beckett and Grube's Monday races cancelled|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=6 August 2024}} Having looked set to claim a medal only to see the race abandoned due to a shift in wind, Beckett was given three separate penalties when racing restarted and came 10th to end in sixth overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.herald.wales/national-news/sport/heartbreak-for-pembrokeshires-micky-beckett-as-olympic-medal-slips-away/|title=Heartbreak for Pembrokeshire’s Micky Beckett as Olympic medal slips away|publisher=Herald Wales|accessdate=7 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/team-gb-star-denied-silver-29695170|title=Team GB star denied silver medal and ordered to start race again in 'devastating' twist|publisher=Wales Online|accessdate=7 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/278042/Battle-Royale-in-Marseille|title=Battle Royale in Marseille - Men's Dinghy Medal Race drama at Paris 2024 Olympics|publisher=Yachts and Yachting|accessdate=7 August 2024}}

Beckett has a Ship Science degree from the University of Southampton. He worked as a television producer for the sailing events at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

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Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:Welsh male sailors (sport)

Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton

Category:Sailors at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Laser

Category:Olympic sailors for Great Britain

Category:21st-century British sportsmen