Stevie Morrison: Olympic Gold Medal Coach and Expert Mentor

Stevie Morrison: A Journey to Gold Medal Coaching

Double 49er Olympian and past world champion Stevie Morrison played a pivotal role in coaching Ellie Aldridge to secure Britain’s only sailing gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Morrison, an Exmouth native, has experienced Olympic disappointments, having competed in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 as a standout medal favorite, ultimately finishing eighth in Qingdao and fifth in Weymouth. He has since found fulfillment in combining high-level coaching with his professional sailing and serving as an engaging commentator in the SailGP commentary box.

We caught up with Stevie upon his return to Exmouth.

So how does it feel to be a gold medal winning coach?

“It feels a bit surreal. I don’t feel much different from when I coached Charlotte and Sas, for example. I take pride in the fact that we made the right choices over the last 18 months while working together. This outcome somewhat validates my perspective on sailing. Given my experiences in 2008 when Ben and I were favorites but didn’t succeed, I have had my concerns about my more jovial approach to coaching. I don’t think there’s anything unprofessional about it; I just enjoy smiling. Now, it’s nice to be vindicated and see that this mindset can lead to a gold medal.”

What were some key decisions that contributed most to this success?

“The key decisions involved utilizing tracking data effectively. We identified that, while Ellie had strong performance methods, the French competitors were faster and bolder in their approach. Ellie made significant gains by embracing this over the last four months. Additionally, we focused on the finer details; instead of saying ‘this feels okay,’ I guided her to make precise adjustments to the mast setup and foil fineness to enhance performance. For instance, we recognized that at the start of the race, being at 11 or 12 knots was no longer acceptable; we aimed for at least 17 or 18 knots when the gun went off. These changes were significant but not overly complicated, allowing us to capitalize on our strengths optimally.”

Can you detail the different modes you implemented?

“From my sailing background, I think about things like mast bend and rake. However, we made some tweaks, such as shimming the mast slightly forward to ensure Ellie gets equal pressure on the front foot. This adjustment meant she could sail faster, gaining more lift off the board and making her speed crucial. Understanding that sailing faster allows for better performance was key and took some time to fully grasp. Ellie managed to adapt, increasing her speed requirements from 18 knots to around 20 or 21 knots. This was about shifting the mindset more than making radical changes.”

“Ellie’s smaller stature requires her to ride closer to the edge, which posed challenges, especially as she previously crashed frequently. Initially, I set strict limits to minimize crashes while encouraging her to find her limits. We didn’t reinvent the wheel in our preparation but rather emphasized clarity on execution—and Ellie consistently improved, even during her first finals race, where we identified skills to enhance.”

How did you first start working with Ellie, and how much did you collaborate?

“I had some experience with kiting alongside the Bridges and Connor Bainbridge and knew Ellie from her past in FX sailing. She reached out to me, which led to support from the RYA for me to accompany her to the Worlds in Sardinia. We maintained communication and increased our collaboration leading up to major events, where my involvement deepened from casual check-ins to intensive preparations before the Olympics.”

Did you anticipate Ellie’s medal-winning potential?

“Absolutely. All four girls had tremendous potential, but Ellie particularly stands out for her composure under pressure. During her Olympic trials, despite facing setbacks like hitting debris that dropped her from first to 11th place, she maintained her focus and continued to perform.”

Was there anything you did differently during the intense competition?

“We had laid the groundwork prior to the event and focused on staying present in the moment. I was initially concerned about having limited race days, so we aimed for high consistency early on. Ellie showed great aggression in her racing style but also knew when to strategically hold back. On Finals day, she was exceptionally composed, applying our shared strategy to get ahead at the first mark and defend her lead.”

Now that you are a gold medal-winning coach, do you foresee taking on more coaching roles?

I genuinely enjoy coaching, especially when the chemistry is right. Participating in the opening ceremony together with Ellie strengthened our bond. Coaching can be immensely rewarding, and I appreciate the variety it offers. However, commentary is still my favorite aspect—it’s thrilling, as it allows me to experience racing in a different capacity while being aware of the pressure to deliver insightful commentary on broadcasts.”