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Posted: 2024-08-21 19:08:40

Dual-Olympic gold medallist Matt Wearn has said it is a shame most athletes do not get to reap the rewards for their success at the Olympics.

Wearn won his second-straight gold in the dinghy-class sailing at the Paris Games, following from his success at Tokyo, and was a flag-bearer at the closing ceremony.

"It is a bit rough that obviously we finish the Games and sort of get your week, maybe two weeks of spotlight, and then you sort of go back into life as normal," he told ABC Radio Perth.

"[I] had the opportunity to be flag-bearer in Paris at the closing ceremony, so [my] profile's gone up a little bit, but there's not a lot that follows.

"Once all the media and everything dies down, we'll just sort of be going back to you're a sailor, that's ours out of Perth, and there won't be much involved.

"[It] becomes hard to find sponsors and likes for the years going forward. It is a bit of a shame.

"The government does a great job to support us, but you compare us to other countries, and it makes you feel a little underwhelmed at times."

Australian Olympian Matt Wearn racing a dinghy in the sailing at the Olympics, hovering outside the boat, trying to find wind

Matt Wearn of Team Australia competes in the Men's Dinghy ICLA class race on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Marseille Marina on August 04, 2024 in Marseille, France. (Getty Images: Clive Mason)

Wearn spends the years between sailing at the Olympics by working on yachts on Australia's east coast, and in Europe, teaching owners how to use their boats.

"I do enjoy that side of sailing, but it is a job at the end of the day, and it takes time away from the Olympic sailing," he said.

"It's hard to find that balance, but you sort of got to do what you can to get a few dollars."

While Wearn has two gold medals already, he's not made a decision on his Olympic career going forward.

"Sailing is definitely going to be part of my life for a very long time," he said.

"You look back in Rio, there was an Argentinian who was 54 years old, and won a gold medal in sailing.

"I haven't really made a decision on LA and beyond, but certainly if the Olympic stuff isn't on the page in the future then potentially just be sailing in general."

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