The next few months are an important stretch for a young athlete from Surry Hills who is working towards one of sport’s biggest goals. Austin Cross, a 20-year-old sailor from Sydney, is preparing to compete at the 470 Asian Championships in July and the 470 World Championships in August, both in Japan. The events are key milestones in his campaign to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Cross and his sailing partner, Sophie Jackson, compete in the Olympic 470 class, a sailing category with a long Olympic history. As they continue their international campaign, the pair are aiming to move closer to Olympic selection while building on a promising start to 2026.
A Childhood Passion Takes Shape on the International Stage
Cross’s Olympic ambitions began on the water as a child. After years of training and competition, he is now pursuing a pathway that could eventually lead to Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.
According to information shared through the pair’s Australian Sports Foundation fundraising campaign, Cross and Jackson are working under Australian coaches as they seek to improve their standing in international 470 competition.
Olympic sailing campaigns often require years of international racing before athletes reach the Games. For developing crews, each regatta provides an opportunity to gain experience against international competition.
Japan Campaign Marks a Key Stage in the Olympic Pathway
The focus now turns to Japan, where Cross and Jackson will contest two important events within weeks of each other.
The first is the 470 Asian Championships in July. The regatta will provide another opportunity to compete against international crews before the season’s biggest challenge arrives in August.
The 470 World Championships, scheduled for 10 to 17 August in Enoshima, will bring together international 470 crews from around the world. For Cross and Jackson’s campaign, the championship represents an important step on their Olympic pathway.
Cross has stated that a top-30 finish at the World Championships is an important target as he pursues qualification for the Australian Sailing Squad and continues working towards LA 2028.
Strong Early Results Have Built Momentum
The Japanese campaign follows encouraging performances earlier this year.
Cross has described 2026 as his first year competing internationally in the Olympic 470 class. During the season, he and Jackson finished as the highest-ranked Australian team at both Sailing Grand Slam events they entered, which Cross says has placed them in the lead towards Australia’s 2028 Olympic selection process.
Those results have helped raise the profile of the crew within Australia’s Olympic sailing pathway. However, international sailing remains highly competitive, and the upcoming championships will provide another opportunity to measure their progress against experienced international crews.
Eyes on the Next Race
The championships in Japan represent an important stage in a longer journey. Cross has identified the next 12 months as a significant period in the pair’s Olympic campaign. While the long-term goal remains an Olympic berth, the immediate focus is on improving results, gaining experience and continuing to climb the international rankings.
As the young sailor from Surry Hills prepares for two of the biggest regattas of his career, his campaign enters an important new phase on the road towards LA 2028.
Published 5-June-2026
