Matt Wearn’s Olympic Dinghy Secured for WA’s Cultural Collection

Fremantle Shipping News attended Royal Perth Yacht Club, Crawley, on the evening of Thursday 15 January 2026, for an event celebrating the acquisition by the Western Australian Museum, in partnership with the Foundation for the WA Museum, of Olympic Gold Medallist Matt Wearn’s 2024 winning Olympic Dinghy, which has been secured for WA’s Cultural Collection.

RPYC’s Commodore, Andrew McAullay and Coralie Bishop, CEO Foundation for the WA Museum, welcomed guests and spoke of the long sailing and maritime heritage in WA.

David O’Sullivan, WAM Assistant Curator, interviewed Matt after he autographed the Dinghy. Attendees learned about Matt’s sailing career. It all began at 4 years of age sailing an Optimist dinghy called ‘Ninja Turtle’ at RPYC. Later Matt was inspired by fellow Western Australian sailors Tessa Parkinson and Elise Rechichi, who visited his club after winning gold medals at the 2008 Bejing Olympics.

Matt has etched his name into history with back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the ILCA (International Laser Class Association) 7 class, an achievement no other Australian sailing athlete has matched, in 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris. He was an Australian flag bearer at the 2024 Olympics’ closing ceremony.

Last week in Tasmania, Matt became the Laser National Champion for the seventh time. Over the years he has won more medals than can be listed and has competed in seven world championships. So what’s next for Matt? The Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 of course.

Matt also said he’d be happy to sail on a F50 at speeds of 100kph – he’s just waiting to be asked!

Matt concluded the event by affirming that despite high-speed foiling yachts, there will always be a place for traditional boats.

Congratulations to Matt Wearn on his extraordinary sailing career. He truly is an inspiration.

*Story and photographs by Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey

Jean Hudson is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer, reviewer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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