MARSEILLE, France – Harvard sailing rising junior Sophia Montgomery opened competition in the women's dinghy event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing 26^th out of 43 competitors in race one, while representing Thailand at the Marseille Marina on Thursday.
 
Montgomery took 26^th behind a time of 43:41, finishing 2:09 behind the race's winner. Louis Cervera of France won the opening race with a time of 41:32. Race two of the 10-race opening series was postponed.
 
In the opening race of the women's dinghy event, wind speeds fluctuated between 9-11 kts with the wind direction coming between 242-258 degrees. The air temperature stood at 28 degrees Celsius (82-83 degrees Fahrenheit) with the course following a windward/leeward pattern for two laps before finishing to the starboard side.
 
Boats ranked 1-10 in the 10-race opening series will advance to the medal race on Aug. 6.
 
Montgomery qualified for the Paris Olympics after finishing in fourth place in the ILCA 6 Class at the Asian Sailing Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, back in December. In Montgomery's first two seasons at Harvard, she was the runner-up at the 2021 NEISA Women's Singlehanded Championship and took fourth at the 2021 ICSA Women's Singlehanded National Championship before capturing the 2022 ICSA event.
 
Montgomery is the first Harvard sailor to qualify for the Summer Olympics since Julia Trotman '88 in 1992 and will be the 17th competitor to represent the Crimson at the Games.

Women's Dinghy Tentative Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Aug. 1 – Race 1, 9:35 a.m.; Race 2 follows Race 1 (Peacock)
Aug. 2 – Race 3, 6:15 a.m., Race 4 follows Race 3 (Peacock)
Aug. 3 – Race 5, 8:25 a.m., Race 6 follows Race 5 (Peacock)
Aug. 4 – Race 7, 8:35 a.m., Race 8 follows Race 7 (Peacock)
Aug. 5 – Race 9, 6:15 a.m., Race 10 follows Race 9 (Peacock)
Aug. 6 – Medal Race, 8:43 a.m. (Peacock)